http://politics.guardian.co.uk/labour/story/0,9061,912489,00.html

From the Guardian (UK)

Unions warn of mass Labour revolt

Patrick Wintour, chief political correspondent

Wednesday March 12, 2003

The Guardian

Union leaders yesterday warned Tony Blair that he will be deserted by the labour movement if he goes ahead with a war in Iraq without a second security council resolution.

A union delegation, led by the TUC general secretary-elect, Brendan Barber, distanced themselves - for the moment - from leftwing moves to hold a special party conference at which Mr Blair's leadership could be challenged.

But a union source said that "all bets are off" if Mr Blair ignores the demand from the party for a second resolution: "There will be mayhem if he does this without the UN."

The pressure for a special party conference is coming from the hard left, especially the Campaign Group of MPs. The unions are reluctant to be embroiled in any leadership manoeuvre so close to military action.

The Campaign Group last night issued a statement saying: "It is time for the prime minister to consider his position. We are now placing at risk the entire fabric of the international community. Blair is not the issue, the future of the UN is."

The group, claiming the backing of 40 MPs, accused Mr Blair of "signing up to the reckless ambitions of US militarism". Its uncompromising stance may help Mr Blair in the short term, but the mood within the labour movement is tense.

Earlier, veteran MP Tam Dalyell, the father of the house, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "As soon as it becomes clear that the UN is disregarded, yes, certainly a letter will go out to our colleagues asking for a special conference of the Labour party.

"I don't think it is possible to exaggerate the degree of concern about the illegality of what is proposed.

"There are many constituency Labour parties who ... will put forward a resolution that if there is no UN mandate and if there is not a vote in the Commons before the commitment of British troops, then we ask the prime minister to consider his position as leader of the party."

Following the TUC's talks at Downing Street, Mr Barber refused to speculate about whether there would be a leadership challenge to Mr Blair if he went ahead with an attack without UN backing.

"I want to focus on the efforts that need to be made now to try to resolve this through the UN and with international agreement," he said. "That is what the prime minister is concentrating on, that's what we are concentrating on."

Privately union leaders said they were not impressed by the Downing Street argument that a military strike would have legitimacy if Mr Blair secured a numerical majority on the security council, but the resolution was vetoed by the French or Russians.