Iraq effect on Blair 'unknown'

Iraq effect on Blair 'unknown'

Blair was dubbed "reckless" by Short

Clare Short has said it is too early to say whether Prime Minister Tony Blair's popularity has suffered because of the Iraq war.

The International Development Secretary, who had threatened to resign over military action, addressed the Foreign Press Association (FPA) about government plans for humanitarian assistance in Iraq.

She said there was still deep concern among Labour MPs about the situation there, despite the defeat of Saddam Hussein.

But Ms Short, who had branded Mr Blair as "deeply reckless" in joining the US-led action, insisted the party was not split.

She also repeated the need for the United Nations to take the lead role in the restoration of Iraq, once it is safe for them to do so.

The International Development Secretary was criticised in the media for being persuaded to stay on in government in order to play a part in the reconstruction of Iraq.

It is too early to decide what the long term effect on the prime minister is

Clare Short

At the FPA news conference, Ms Short refused to comment on whether she still thought the war had been reckless.

But she added: "I am pleased to be a part of a party that is deeply troubled by a war.

"It is too early to decide what the long term effect on the prime minister is."

After the news conference, Ms Short was condemned for not allowing journalists from the British media to attend the briefing.

Support 'growing'

Shadow foreign secretary Michael Ancram said: "It is abundantly clear that Clare Short has now lost all credibility.

"She can no longer trust herself to speak to the British media. Her credibility is in tatters."

But Bob Jenner, general manager of the FPA, insisted the briefing was one of a weekly series for its members.

The prime minister's policy on Iraq caused him the biggest revolt of his career in the House of Commons, with 138 Labour MPs voting against the government on military action.

Helping the Iraqis should be the work of the coalition until the UN can take over, Short said

Another senior Cabinet minister, Robin Cook, and two junior ministers resigned over the crisis.

But Mr Blair retained the backing of two-thirds of his party and, helped by the Conservative Party, won support for a war by a comfortable margin.

Among the public, it appears that support for Mr Blair has risen since war started.

In a survey published in The Guardian newspaper on Tuesday, 63% of respondents supported military action to remove Saddam, while 23% were opposed.

UN backing

Before the conflict, the polls suggested a majority opposed to war without UN backing.

Ms Short told journalists that under the Geneva Convention it was the responsibility of coalition forces to provide humanitarian aid to the Iraqi people until the UN returned.

She also said that international organisations like the World Bank and the IMF should be encouraged to help Iraq - but this would require a further UN resolution.

The humanitarian situation in Iraq was "serious", she said, and required the attention of the international community, even those countries which had opposed the war.