Straw urged to oppose 'Star Wars'

Menwith Hill - the scene of anti-NMD protests

Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has again come under pressure to voice opposition felt by many Labour MPs to the US national missile defence project (NMD).

Appearing in the Commons just hours before he was due to fly to Washington, Mr Straw was reminded by backbench MP Malcolm Savidge that more than 100 Labour MPs had signed a motion that is highly critical of NMD - dubbed 'Son of Star Wars'.

I think I would rather go naked into a conference chamber than with the robust support of the right honourable gentleman

Jack Straw

Mr Savidge warned that NMD - which the US government believes could help prevent missile attacks by so-called rogue states - would cause more danger than it could prevent.

"On a catalogue of issues the Bush administration seems recklessly ready to either block or breach international agreements which are essential to a safer and more civilised future," the MP said.

And his Labour colleague, David Winnick, said: "Sometimes a good and firm ally of the US like Britain should be willing to tell them when they are wrong.

US 'wrong' over NMD

"They are wrong over Star Wars and we should say so and have the courage to say so."

Mr Straw said he recognised the concerns of backbenchers but refused to commit the government either way until the American plans were made clear.

He said that Britain shared the US concern that the threats posed to Western nations had changed significantly in the last 30 years and responses needed examining.

There was laughter in the Commons' chamber when Mr Straw responded to an offer of "robust support" from his Conservative opposite number, Francis Maude, if the the foreign secretary committed in principle to the US plans.

Bare of support?

Mr Maude said: "We appreciate that this is a difficult issue for many on the government benches but let me make it clear that we will give robust support to the government if it chooses to proceed in that way."

But Mr Straw replied: "I think I would rather go naked into a conference chamber than with the robust support of the right honourable gentleman."