Parliament is set to be recalled as Labour and Tories cut short party conferences

Parliament is expected to be recalled next week for an emergency debate on the crisis caused by the terrorist attacks in America.

Downing Street said a recall of both Houses was under "active consideration" but there was a widespread view among senior MPs that British forces will have been involved in military action in Afghanistan by the time a debate is held, possibly on Thursday of next week. MPs expect America to launch its retaliation later this week.

Iain Duncan Smith, the Tory leader, met Tony Blair at Downing Street yesterday and, directly afterwards, suggested military action was imminent.

He said: "While our thoughts and prayers turn to those who have lost loved ones during the course of this terrible set of incidents, we must now turn our thoughts to our armed forces who may, in the course of the next few days or weeks, find themselves in action."

Labour and the Tories will cut short their party conferences. The Labour gathering, in Brighton next week, is expected to end on Wednesday lunchtime instead of Thursday evening, allowing MPs to be at Westminster for a recall of Parliament. The Tories decided yesterday that their conference in Blackpool the following week will also finish at lunchtime on Wednesday rather than Thursday afternoon.

David Davis, the Tory chairman, said last night: "The Conservative Party recognises the seriousness of the international situation and the fact British forces may be at risk while serving their country at or around the time of our conference. It is vital that the process of democracy continues but it is also vital that our country's enemies abroad understand how seriously we take this threat and how unified we are behind the alliance against terrorism."

Ministers were reluctant to allow a second recall of Parliament but Mr Blair came under pressure to allow another full-scale debate during yesterday's meeting with 40 MPs from four Commons select committees.

Tony Wright, the chairman of the Public Adminstration Select Committee, said a recall was inevitable. He said: "Parliament is supposed to be the great forum of the nation. It is absurd that this issue is being discussed in every other forum." He said yesterday's meetings were no substitute for a debate in Parliament and said MPs, rather than the Government, should decide on any future recalls.

MPs and peers had held an emergency one-day debate three days after the 11 September attacks but Mr Blair may come under pressure for a longer recall next week, especially if there are British casualties. Some MPs want the Commons to end its three-month summer break immediately rather than wait until its scheduled return on 15 October.

MPs will not pass emergency anti-terrorism laws next week because they are still being drawn up. David Blunkett, the Home Secretary, said the first legislation responding to the attacks would not be ready for several weeks.