PRESSURE over Iraq was mounting this week as Lancaster and Wyre's MP called on the Prime Minister to consider quitting or risk ending Labour's term in office.

Hilton Dawson says Tony Blair should reject the 'rush to war being heavily propagated by the United States'.

Instead he wants to see the UK adopt a robust but realistic timetable for Iraqi disarmament.

Mr Dawson and Morecambe and Lunesdale MP Geraldine Smith have both opposed military action without UN sanction.

Mr Dawson says he will also oppose a resolution which sets an unrealistic timetable for disarmament.

"If it comes to war then the people who are from my constituency and fighting will have my 100 per cent support," he assures, but stresses: "Rushing into war would be absolutely disastrous."

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Mr Dawson has supported international development secretary Clare Short who pledged to quit if Blair attacked Iraq without UN sanction.

"I think if Clare is considering her position, Tony needs to consider his as well," he says, warning that war without UN support could damage the prospects of a third Labour Government for the PM.

"We need to keep up the pressure on Iraq and set a realistic timetable for disarmament. I honestly believe we can do that peacefully. I deplore the rush to war."

Geraldine Smith, however, has criticised Cabinet member Clare Short for breaking ranks by calling the government policy on Iraq "reckless".

"I think her remarks were premature. She should have waited to see if we are going to get a second resolution - international negotiations can change by the hour."

Ms Smith says a lot of people have written to her, concerned about war, but says she received more letters in the past about the deregulation of small pharmacies.