Chief Whip isolated over 'appeasers'

The position of the Government's Chief Whip Hilary Armstrong appeared undermined today as Tony Blair dismissed her suggestion that critics of the military campaign were "appeasers".

In his speech on the military conflict, the Prime Minister made it clear that he feels there is room in a true democracy for people to express their doubts about the bombing.

Ms Armstrong was said to have told back-bencher Paul Marsden he was an appeaser for saying MPs should be given a vote on the campaign.

Mr Blair acknowledged legitimate concerns about the effects of bombing, but called on people to keep firmly in mind the imperative not to allow a repeat of 11 September to occur.

He said concerns over civilian casualties, the refugee crisis as winter approaches and the question of what comes after the conflict "deserve to be answered", adding: "No one who raises doubts is an appeaser or a faint-heart.

"We are a democracy strong enough to have doubts raised, even at a time of war, and wise enough to be able to respond to them."

Two weeks ago Mr Marsden said Ms Armstrong had attacked him for raising doubts in the Commons over the war. He said he took a verbatim note of her remarks, and alleged that she said to him: "You're like the people who appeased Hitler."

He said she told him: "War is not a matter of conscience," and warned: "Those that aren't with us are against us."

Mr Blair's official spokesman said he would not comment today on leaked details of a private conversation, but added: "We have no problem with people expressing different views."