Letter published in Guardian on 7 August 2002.

We wish to express our concern at the Prime Minister's reluctance to agree to a vote of the House of Commons before committing military forces to action in Iraq. Mr Blair cites lack of precedent for such a vote. However, such precedent does exist.

In 1982 a debate and technical vote were held before troops were sent to the Falklands. In February 1998, facing continued Iraqi refusal to allow weapons inspections, the Labour government allowed a full debate and vote on a substantive motion. Now the Prime Minister has merely said that Parliament will be "consulted".

A substantive vote, before any action, would provide explicit support or what may turn out to be a risky conflict. It will also give a clear indication to the public of the view of their elected representatives on a matter of supreme importance, the decision to go to war.

In an immediate state of emergency the government could not be expected to wait for parliamentary approval for military action.

However, a war being planned many months in advance is not such an emergency. The government should not be afraid of democracy. It is democracy which the government says the war on terrorism is being fought to defend.

Karen Bartlett,

with:

Bishop Eric Brown
Edie Freeman
Prof Mary Kaldor
Jean Lambert MEP
Prof Dawn Oliver
Ruth Turner
Simon Woolley