Blair to keep war making powers

The government decides when the UK goes to war

The government has rejected a move to give Parliament the official right to decide when Britain goes to war.

Ministers have rebuffed a call by peers to give Parliament "war-making powers" and the final say on the deployment of British troops in conflicts.

Currently the prime minister decides, using the Royal Prerogative.

In response to a report by the Lords constitution committee, the government argues it has to have the ability to respond to conflicts immediately.

It has been argued that a full parliamentary debate would delay this too much.

But constitution committee chairman Lord Holme called the government's response "temporising and woolly".

Iraq vote

It had "very little to do with the merits of the case. It is rather reflective of the divisions within the government on this fundamental democratic issue".

Chancellor Gordon Brown has said he would be in favour of giving Parliament war-making powers.

And earlier this year Conservative leader David Cameron also said he backed key decisions being made by Parliament, rather than the prime minister.

The Royal Prerogatives are a series of historic powers officially held by the Queen that have, in reality, been passed to the prime minister of the day.

They enable decisions to be taken without the backing of, or consultation with, Parliament.

Ministers have pointed to the fact that in 2003 MPs were given a vote on the eve of war with Iraq.