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Rebel MPs fail to force Iraq vote Rebel MPs fail to force Iraq vote
(20 minutes later)
Rebel Labour MPs have failed in a bid to stage a symbolic show of defiance on the government's Iraq policy.Rebel Labour MPs have failed in a bid to stage a symbolic show of defiance on the government's Iraq policy.
After a six-hour debate on Iraq and the Middle East, they were expected to force a technical vote on the adjournment of the House. After a six-hour debate on Iraq and the Middle East, they were expected to force a technical vote on the adjournment of the Commons.
But the vote - the only way they could have shown opposition to Tony Blair's policy - did not take place.But the vote - the only way they could have shown opposition to Tony Blair's policy - did not take place.
Earlier Mr Blair rebuffed Lib Dem calls to withdraw troops by October, saying it would send a "disastrous signal".Earlier Mr Blair rebuffed Lib Dem calls to withdraw troops by October, saying it would send a "disastrous signal".
The prime minister was heavily criticised for not staying on and opening the debate, instead choosing to address business leaders nearby. Speaking at prime minister's questions, before the debate, Mr Blair said setting an "arbitrary timetable" for troop withdrawal was "a policy which, whatever its superficial attractions may be, is actually deeply irresponsible".
Speaking before the debate, Mr Blair said setting an "arbitrary timetable" for troop withdrawal was "a policy which, whatever its superficial attractions may be, is actually deeply irresponsible." Heavy criticism
The call for a phased withdrawal of British troops, between May and the end of October, was made by Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell. But he was heavily criticised by many MPs for not staying on and opening the debate, instead choosing to address business leaders nearby.
Later he told the debate on Iraq: "No-one can accuse the United Kingdom of cutting and running after four years in which we have tried, we have tried to the best of our ability to fulfil the objectives of the United Nations resolution." Scottish National Party leader Alex Salmond asked: "Why was he so anxious to talk us into this disastrous war but so reluctant to explain how we are going to get out of it?"
I don't think it's any longer reasonable or legitimate to ask our armed forces to bear this burden Sir Menzies Campbell
Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said Mr Blair would report back to the Commons once Operation Sinbad, currently under way in Basra, was complete.
She said no prime minister had put themselves before "the scrutiny of Parliament" more than Mr Blair.
The call for a phased withdrawal of British troops, between May and the end of October, was made by Liberal Democrats leader Sir Menzies Campbell, who opposed the invasion in 2003.
'Dangerously irresponsible'
He told the debate: "No-one can accuse the United Kingdom of cutting and running after four years in which we have tried, we have tried to the best of our ability, to fulfil the objectives of the United Nations resolution."
He added: "I don't think it's any longer reasonable or legitimate to ask our armed forces to bear this burden."He added: "I don't think it's any longer reasonable or legitimate to ask our armed forces to bear this burden."
But Mrs Beckett said: "We are not setting and never have set and never will set, because we think it would be dangerously irresponsible, a specific date, a specific deadline, a specific timeline, we will judge on the conditions."
There will be no fairytale ending to the occupation whether it's this year, next year or in five years' time Frank Dobson
However, she told MPs that British troops could hand control of Basra to local authorities this spring.
For the Conservatives, who backed the war, Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague called for a "high level" Privy Council inquiry into its conduct.
He also expressed some concern at US plans to send extra troops to Baghdad and Anbar province. "Aren't we justified, given that previous attempts to flood Baghdad with larger numbers of troops have not achieved their objectives, to be somewhat sceptical about the deployment of 20,000 additional US troops, however much we may hope they will succeed?"
Several Labour backbenchers spoke out against the government's policy, including former ministers Frank Dobson and Peter Kilfoyle.
Mr Dobson said parts of Iraq were now in "murderous chaos", adding: "There will be no fairytale ending to the occupation whether it's this year, next year or in five years' time and, that being the case, my own sad conclusion is the sooner we withdraw the better."
And George Galloway, of the anti-war Respect Party, accused the government of trying to "lull us into sleepwalking into a coming conflict with Iran".
He said if Iran was attacked, British soldiers in a "thin red line in the sand" in southern Iraq would be the "first to suffer."