Britain's Blair risks revolt on US action on Iraq.

Reuters. 28 August 2002.

LONDON -- British Prime Minister Tony Blair is facing a major revolt within his ruling Labour Party over his support for U.S. President George W. Bush's threats of action against Iraq, according to a new opinion poll.

The ICM poll published in Wednesday's Guardian newspaper showed that 52 percent of Labour supporters believed Britain did not support any military action against Iraq -- one of three nations branded the "axis of evil" by Bush.

The poll, conducted by telephone and involving more than 1,000 adults from August 23-25, was published barely a day after Bush's leading hawk, Vice-President Dick Cheney, called for pre-emptive action against Iraq.

Blair, who vowed to stand "shoulder-to-shoulder" with Bush in his "war on terror" after the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington, has been facing increasing opposition from with his own party ranks as the U.S. rhetoric rises.

This is likely to burst fully into the open at a series of party conferences due to take place in coming weeks -- both of the Labour Party itself and its traditional Trades Union supporters with whom relations are already strained.

"If Mr Blair stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the U.S. over Iraq, he will be putting his government and all his political aspirations at risk," the Guardian said in an editorial.

"It is time to stop fudging, time to enter the debate, time to speak for Britain's true interests, and time to openly oppose a pre-emptive strike on Iraq. On this issue it is time for Britain to break publicly with the U.S.," it said.

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