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Blair under attack on Iraq debate Blair under attack on Iraq debate
(about 10 hours later)
Tony Blair is being urged to lead a Commons debate on Iraq on Wednesday, instead of meeting business leaders. Tony Blair is being urged to lead a Commons debate on Iraq later instead of meeting business leaders.
The prime minister is due to address a CBI conference, but left-wing Labour MP John McDonnell said it was "shocking negation of his responsibilities."The prime minister is due to address a CBI conference, but left-wing Labour MP John McDonnell said it was "shocking negation of his responsibilities."
Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell has written asking Mr Blair to attend while Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague said Mr Blair should lead the debate. The Lib Dem leader has written asking Mr Blair to attend while the Tories also said he should lead the debate.
Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett is expected to open for the government. Meanwhile, Sir Menzies Campbell has also called for all British troops to be withdrawn from Iraq by October.
But on Sunday Sir Menzies said the prime minister had a "public duty" to do so. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that ministers should spend the next three months consulting allies before beginning a "staged withdrawal" in May.
In his letter to Mr Blair, he wrote: "Would it not be appropriate if you yourself were to open that debate on behalf of the government? " It is the first time any of the main political parties has proposed a definite date for a pull out.
Earlier, Sir Menzies said the prime minister had a "public duty" to lead the Commons debate on Iraq - which Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett is expected to do instead.
In his letter to Mr Blair, he wrote: "Would it not be appropriate if you yourself were to open that debate on behalf of the government?"
'Issue of gravity''Issue of gravity'
He said it was nearly four years since he had last opened a debate on Iraq, since when 130 British servicemen and women had died and, according to UN estimates, 34,000 Iraqis had been killed in 2006 alone. Sir Menzies said it was nearly four years since Mr Blair had last opened a debate on Iraq, since when 130 British servicemen and women had died and, according to UN estimates, 34,000 Iraqis had been killed in 2006 alone.
"In these circumstances the British people are entitled to hear your analysis and strategy for withdrawal," he wrote."In these circumstances the British people are entitled to hear your analysis and strategy for withdrawal," he wrote.
"I consider that on an issue of such gravity the public are entitled to hear the party leaders.""I consider that on an issue of such gravity the public are entitled to hear the party leaders."
He cannot find time to attend a debate in the House of Commons about a policy that is undermining his legacy John McDonnellHe cannot find time to attend a debate in the House of Commons about a policy that is undermining his legacy John McDonnell
In October, the government saw off a cross-party bid by MPs to force an immediate inquiry to be held into the Iraq war.In October, the government saw off a cross-party bid by MPs to force an immediate inquiry to be held into the Iraq war.
But Mr Blair has said he has not ruled out holding one in the future.But Mr Blair has said he has not ruled out holding one in the future.
He has sidestepped growing calls for a full Commons debate on Iraq, saying he was happy to talk about it "at any time".He has sidestepped growing calls for a full Commons debate on Iraq, saying he was happy to talk about it "at any time".
The Stop The War Coalition will stage a protest outside the Commons to mark the debate on Wednesday afternoon.The Stop The War Coalition will stage a protest outside the Commons to mark the debate on Wednesday afternoon.
Mr McDonnell, who has said he will run for Labour leader when Mr Blair steps down this year, said the prime minister should attend.Mr McDonnell, who has said he will run for Labour leader when Mr Blair steps down this year, said the prime minister should attend.
"He cannot find time to attend a debate in the House of Commons about a policy that is undermining his legacy, preferring to speak to big business. It is a shocking negation of his responsibilities.""He cannot find time to attend a debate in the House of Commons about a policy that is undermining his legacy, preferring to speak to big business. It is a shocking negation of his responsibilities."
And Mr Hague said Mr Blair should be leading the debate.And Mr Hague said Mr Blair should be leading the debate.
"He was in the House to lead us to war," he said."He was in the House to lead us to war," he said.
"He should now be in the House to reassure Parliament and the country that the government understands the gravity of situation in Iraq and has a clear strategy for making Iraq safe and stable.""He should now be in the House to reassure Parliament and the country that the government understands the gravity of situation in Iraq and has a clear strategy for making Iraq safe and stable."