Anti-bombs MP defies 'whip's demands'

Muslims, CND and the Greens have held anti-war rallies

A Labour backbencher has claimed his critical views of coalition bombing in Afghanistan have only been hardened by party whips' attempts to pressure him into toning down his comments.

Paul Marsden, one of the six outspoken Labour MPs who have signed a parliamentary motion calling for a halt to the military strikes, has repeatedly called for a Commons vote on the issue.

Labour anti-bombing MPs

Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham)

Alan Simpson (Nottingham South)

Robert Marshall-Andrews (Medway)

Alice Mahon (Halifax)

Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow)

Lynne Jones (Birmingham Selly Oak)

At a meeting on Tuesday night, government chief whip Hilary Armstrong urged him to tow the party line and to clear any future motions or media appearances with her, according to Mr Marsden.

The claims came as former Armed Forces Minister Doug Henderson said the wariness of MPs to express their views was now "wearing thin".

Explaining that he had refused to comply with Ms Armstrong's demand, Mr Marsden said: "My views against the bombing have only hardened after this meeting."

'No backing down'

He continued: "I made it clear that I would not be backing down on my views that Parliament should be given a vote in this war.

"There followed an interesting discussion on whether those that do not believe this bombing campaign is right were appeasing terrorists.

"I was appalled at the suggestion that, even though I support military action to bring to justice those responsible, there could be a childish accusation of support for terrorism if you don't support bombing civilians in Afghanistan."

Galloway says the war is going very badly

In Tuesday's Commons debate about the war on terror, Mr Marsden used stark words to voice his worries, saying: "We are dropping bombs and blowing up kids, and it should stop now."

Mr Henderson too was another MP who voiced his concern about the current military tactics.

Ministers must demonstrate that action was both necessary and leading to something else, the former minister argued.

'Grave doubts'

Mr Henderson told MPs of his "grave doubts about a so-called all-out ground war".

He said: "Even if Bin Laden were apprehended and brought to justice by such an approach, would not the downside - the effect on the rest of Muslim world - outweigh the benefits?"

Tam Dalyell, the longest serving MP, asked what were the precise aims of the continued bombing campaign.

And another Labour MP, George Galloway, claimed the "iron consensus" shown by the Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat front benches did not speak for the country.

Suggesting the war was going "very badly", he continued: "There has been a 10-day round-the-clock, massive bombardment of a country which before the conflict started was best described as being on the verge of the Stone Age."

Other MPs voiced their full support for the military action and the Defence Secretary, Geoff Hoon, countered opposition to the raids.

'Clear goals'

He stressed there were three clear military goals: to destroy the terrorist camps, to pressure the Taleban into ending its support for Osama Bin Laden and to create the right conditions for future operations in Afghanistan.

"The general practice has been always to ensure that all targets conform to international law and indeed, national law," he told MPs.

Ministers have been keen to emphasise that military action is carefully targeted and is being conducted alongside an equally important humanitarian aid effort.