Blair threatened with huge revolt over Iraq stance

Tony Blair is facing the biggest Labour grassroots rebellion since he became party leader over his support for plans by the United States to take military action against Iraq.

Left-wing MPs who oppose the Prime Minister's approach have drawn up plans for a campaign aimed at forcing him to take a softer line. They are urging local Labour parties to call special meetings about Iraq, to pass resolutions rejecting military action and to flood a Labour review of defence policy with submissions hostile to the Prime Minister.

The anti-Blair moves are being orchestrated by the Campaign Group of left-wing MPs. Although it has only 27 members, dissent in Labour's ranks over Iraq runs much deeper, with 122 Labour MPs signing a Commons motion expressing "deep unease" about military intervention.