MPs rebel against Iraq inquiry plans

 Both of Gloucestershire’s Labour MPs were among backbenchers to revolt over the arrangements for an Iraq inquiry, which saw the Government's majority slashed by nearly half.

Parmjit Dhanda for Gloucester and Stroud’s David Drew joined 17 of their Labour colleagues to back a Tory motion demanding a re-think and a vote for MPs on the inquiry's terms of reference.

The move was defeated by 299 to 260 a reduced government majority of 39.

It followed an impassioned six-hour debate generated much anger and criticism from the Labour backbenchers of Gordon Brown's handling of the affair.

Mr Dhanda, who voted against the Iraq war, said: “My message to the Government is clear.

"We need an open, honest and transparent inquiry into Iraq, and that's why I had to vote against the Government."

Mr Brown last week abandoned plans for a behind-closed-doors probe by Sir John Chilcot after they were met with scorn and derision by a stream of senior political and military figures.

And Foreign Secretary David Miliband offered a further concession by indicating it will be able to apportion blame.

Mr Miliband told the Commons the inquiry, which will be chaired by Sir John Chilcot, could “praise or blame whoever it likes”.

When the Prime Minister announced the inquiry last week, he told MPs that its role would be to establish what lessons could be learned from the conflict and not to apportion blame.

Labour's amendment welcoming the “wide ranging and independent” inquiry set up by Mr Brown was backed by 305 to 251, Government majority 54.