MARCH 19: SWINDON'S Labour MPs threw their weight behind an embattled Tony Blair last night by backing a war in Iraq within days.

Julia Drown (South Swindon) and Michael Wills (North Swindon) both backed a government motion authorising "all means necessary" to disarm Saddam Hussein.

They voted against a rebel amendment backed by 140 Labour backbenchers which insisted that the case for war "had not yet been established" In total 217 MPs backed the rebel amendment opposing the government with 396 against. A motion backing the government was passed by 412 votes to 149. But the size of the Labour rebellion was up from 122 at the last vote.

James Gray, Conserva-tive MP for North Wiltshire, also supported the government, despite being heavily critical of Tony Blair's failure to convince people of the need for war.

Ms Drown said she had agonised long and hard before voting with Mr Blair, confessing to deep misgivings about America's policy in the Middle East.

She said: "This has been an incredibly difficult decision. Whether or not there is war, many innocent people in Iraq will die.

"I take little comfort from American foreign policy, but I have confidence in our Prime Minister to do what's best for Britain and the wider world.

"There is more danger for both the people of Iraq and the Middle East in pulling back now, than if we are prepared to tackle the problems of weapons of mass destruction and human rights abuses. That is my judgement, even with all the risks and difficulties that I know war carries."

Mr Wills has insisted the international community cannot be paralysed by France, which has pledged to veto any new resolution that threatened war.

And Mr Gray has said it is time to rally behind British troops who are about to go into action regardless of whether the UN has passed a second resolution.