Blair must let us vote on Iraq war; North Wales MP speaks out over Saddam strike.

Byline: Tariq Tahir

A SENIOR Welsh backbench Labour MP has spoken out against Tony Blair's support for a US strike on Iraq.

Martyn Jones said there must be a proper vote on whether there is to be a war on Saddam Hussein - not just a debate - if the UN does not give its blessing to action.

Recalling his own meeting with the Iraqi tyrant, he said Saddam was ``cunning and evil'' but not a terrorist. His arsenal of weapons of mass destruction was a well known fact and not a new reason for war, Mr Jones claimed.

The Clwyd South MP is chairman of the Welsh Affairs Select Committee and broadly a supporter of the Government.

Yesterday the Government agreed to a recall of Parliament and to present a dossier of evidence about Saddam Hussein's weapons. But MPs will not get to express support - or otherwise - for a campaign by voting for a substantive motion.

``I there's not going to be a UN mandate then I think there should be a votable motion in Parliament.

``If the Government is telling us that it's going to take action no matter what, we should be able to vote as elected representatives.''

Mr Jones dismissed the Prime Minister and President George W Bush's argument that Saddam has presented a reason for attack by breaching past UN resolutions on arms inspection.

``It's an accepted principle in law that you can't bring up charges from the past against someone when it suits you.

``This has to be put before the UN and a statement made that he opens up to the weapons inspectorate or faces military action. Without that I think the majority of people in my constituency or the country would be against action.

Meanwhile, Plaid Cymru leader Ieuan Wyn Jones has repeated the party's opposition to action on Iraq. He said: ``I don't believe Iraq is an immediate threat.''

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BLAST: Martyn Jones MP