Parliament to be recalled after Blair bows to pressure for debate Â

Tony Blair is expected to bow to pressure to recall Parliament from its three-month summer break to discuss plans for military action against Iraq.

The Commons is likely to sit for one or two days the week after next, possibly on the day when the Government publishes its long-awaited dossier of evidence about Saddam Hussein's efforts to obtain chemical, biological and nuclear weapons.

Responding to a growing clamour from MPs for an emergency debate on Iraq, Mr Blair told the TUC conference in Blackpool yesterday: "Before there is any question of taking military action, I can categorically assure you that Parliament will be consulted and will have the fullest opportunity to debate the matter and express its view." The Prime Minister's words on Iraq were heard in silence but he won a polite 50-second standing ovation from most TUC delegates after saying President Saddam should be dealt with through the United Nations.

He warned that "action" would follow if the Iraqi leader ignored the UN's will. Insisting that it would be an "act of gross irresponsibility" to do nothing about "this international outlaw", he said he would "not want it on my conscience that we knew the threat, that we saw it coming and we did nothing".

Throwing down the gauntlet to the United Nations, Mr Blair said: "The challenge to all in the UN is this: the UN must be the way to resolve the threat from Saddam, not avoid it."

The dossier on President Saddam's weapons has not been finished and there are disagreements over how much intelligence-based evidence should be included. The Government, worried that the much-vaunted report may prove to be a damp squib, is keen to include as much fresh information as possible but has met resistance from the intelligence services in Britain and America.

Blair aides are considering Thursday 26 September as a possible date for a brief parliamentary recall. Charles Kennedy, the Liberal Democrat leader, is due to address his party's conference then but the event is timed to end at lunchtime and his speech could be brought forward a day.

Mark Oaten, chairman of the parliamentary Liberal Democrats, said: "There is a real opportunity for the Government to respond to public concern by holding a proper debate in Westminster. This is now becoming urgent, and it should be distinct from the party conference season."

There was a mixed reaction to Mr Blair's speech from union leaders, who welcomed his commitment to the UN but demanded further guarantees that he would not sanction military action without its support.

Dave Prentis, the general secretary of Unison, said: "He concentrated on the things that unite us, but avoided two difficult issues. He did not give us a categorical assurance that President Bush and Prime Minister Blair would not bilaterally start a war in the Middle East."

Bob Crow, the left-wing general secretary of the RMT rail union, said: "He didn't convince me. He talks about consultation, but he is clearly hell-bent on war with Iraq. He does everything that George Bush tells him to."

Graham Allen, a Labour MP, was refused permission yesterday to hire the Commons chamber for an unofficial session of Parliament. Parliamentary authorities declined the request on the basis that the House of Commons was the only body that could hire the chamber.

Instead, Mr Allen has called a meeting of MPs at Church House, Westminster, on Thursday next week. It will be chaired by Lord Weatherill, a former Commons Speaker, and televised live on the BBC Parliament channel. Hiring the room will cost the BBC up to £2,800, on top of broadcasting costs.

Mr Allen, MP for Nottingham North, said: "We are actually moving into a war situation and people are standing on ceremony in order to deny Parliament the right to meet. The person doing the most of that is the Prime Minister."