Labour scare as majority is slashed in vote

THE Government’s Commons majority was slashed to just 28 as it fought off a Tory motion calling for an immediate inquiry into the Iraq war.

The Government survived last night’s Commons vote by 299 to 271 as 12 Labour rebels joined the opposition parties to back an inquiry.

The result saw Labour’s usual majority of 67 cut by more than half, and represented an even tighter margin than a similar vote last June which the Government won with a majority of 35.

Opening the debate, shadow foreign secretary William Hague said that public opinion had now shifted behind the demands for an inquiry.

“If ministers continue to argue against that, they will be increasingly isolated voices holding out against a preponderance of national opinion,” he said.

However, Foreign Secretary David Miliband said that, while the Government accepted the case for an inquiry, it should wait until British troops had completed their mission in Iraq.