Blair: We must finish the job in Iraq

A defiant Tony Blair faced down hostile Labour MPs in the Commons today, telling them to "stand firm" and finish the job in Iraq.

In an uncompromising exchange this afternoon, he made clear the expected deployment of troops to northern Iraq will not be halted by the political row in Britain.

Responding fiercely to a Labour MP who urged him to "say no to the Americans", Mr Blair rounded on the growing rebellion in his ranks.

"What we have to do now is stand firm and see it through - and we will," he declared, saying the stabilisation of Iraq was "in our national interest".

Mr Blair gave no concessions, refusing to reveal details of the proposed troop movement on security grounds. But he said the 650 men of the Black Watch would be "home for Christmas".

He said none would go to Fallujah or Baghdad itself and they would be under British commanders.

The deployment looked set to be postponed for at least a week as MPs staged a show of force against the American request for reinforcements. Some 45, including former health secretary Frank Dobson and six other ex-ministers, signed a motion against the move and calling for a Commons vote.

The most senior British commander in Iraq admitted there was "a degree of risk" in deploying reserve troops currently protecting UK forces around Basra.