British MP hopes to hire Parliament for Iraq debate

Xinhua News Agency | September 10, 2002

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LONDON, Sept 10, 2002 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- A British Member of Parliament (MP) , unsatisfied with Prime Minister Tony Blair's refusal to recall parliament from its summer break to discuss possible military action against Iraq, said on Tuesday he wanted to hire the House of Commons for a debate on the issue.

Graham Allen, a parliamentarian of Blair's Labor Party, said growing tension with Iraq is so urgent it needs to be discussed in parliament before any military action might be taken.

"I believe parliament's role is to act as a sounding board, to actually give advice, perhaps to hold the prime minister to account, and all those things are being denied us at the moment, until October 15," Allen told BBC radio.

Constitutional experts said if Allen's bid succeeds, it will mark the first time in more than 300 years that the British parliament has sat without the blessing of its executive.

The parliament is not officially due to return from its summer break until October 15.

Allen was due to meet parliamentary officials later on Tuesday to discuss the possibility of hiring the chamber. Media reports said it would cost around 6,000 pounds (about 9,325 US dollars) for the day.

Prime Minister Tony Blair has so far refused to recall parliament to discuss the issue of Iraq, but has promised to consult parliament members on any military action against Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

Blair, the closest ally and strongest supporter of United States President George W. Bush over a possible war against Iraq, has been criticized in Britain for automatically supporting Bush's hawkish attitude towards Baghdad.

More than 100 members of parliament last week signed a letter to Blair, urging him not to support Bush in starting a war against Saddam Hussein without a United Nations resolution.

Copyright 2002 XINHUA NEWS AGENCY.