ooseven
02-27-2003, 08:15 AM
Tony Blair was braced for the biggest rebellion of his premiership - and he got it in spades.
After failing to win over his anti-war critics, the prime minister watched as a packed-to-bursting Commons delivered its verdict on his policy towards Saddam Hussein.
He won the day, of course, but saw the rebels racking up a far bigger vote against him than most had predicted.
He knew he could count on the support of most of the Tories and 140 of his ministers who would have faced the sack had they failed to back him.
It was a passionate, sometimes bitter but always honest debate about the rights and wrongs of the government's handling of Saddam Hussein.
But the fact is, it will make absolutely no difference to Tony Blair's plans.
He will still seek a second UN resolution sanctioning action against Iraq and, if he gets it, will breathe a huge sigh of relief.
It won't quite be a case of 'with one bound he was free' - but close.
If he fails to get that second motion, he will still stand alongside President Bush when he attacks Iraq. And the long term consequences could be massive.
Link (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/2800165.stm)
Despite the "victory" some are sayiing this could spell the end of Blair's premiership ?
Discuss......
After failing to win over his anti-war critics, the prime minister watched as a packed-to-bursting Commons delivered its verdict on his policy towards Saddam Hussein.
He won the day, of course, but saw the rebels racking up a far bigger vote against him than most had predicted.
He knew he could count on the support of most of the Tories and 140 of his ministers who would have faced the sack had they failed to back him.
It was a passionate, sometimes bitter but always honest debate about the rights and wrongs of the government's handling of Saddam Hussein.
But the fact is, it will make absolutely no difference to Tony Blair's plans.
He will still seek a second UN resolution sanctioning action against Iraq and, if he gets it, will breathe a huge sigh of relief.
It won't quite be a case of 'with one bound he was free' - but close.
If he fails to get that second motion, he will still stand alongside President Bush when he attacks Iraq. And the long term consequences could be massive.
Link (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/2800165.stm)
Despite the "victory" some are sayiing this could spell the end of Blair's premiership ?
Discuss......