Cabinet is divided on attacking Iraq, Prescott admits

John Prescott, the Deputy Prime Minister, admitted yesterday that there were differences of opinion in the Cabinet about an invasion of Iraq.

Mr Prescott dismissed as "prattle" recent suggestions that there was a serious split, but confirmed ministers were not in agreement. His intervention came after Robin Cook, the Leader of the Commons, told friends he would raise in the Cabinet his "deep concerns" about US policy on Iraq.

Mr Prescott, who is standing in for Tony Blair during the Prime Minister's holiday, said: "There is no serious division inside the Cabinet and there are debates inside the Cabinet. The Prime Minister has made it absolutely clear these decisions are not imminent, no decision has been taken and he has not yet decided what form of consultation will take place while we are in these circumstances."

Mr Prescott's admission of a debate about Iraq was the first public confirmation of what ministers have said privately. The division may not be serious, but division there is.

Mr Cook, Clare Short, the International Development Secretary, and Margaret Beckett, the Rural Affairs Secretary, are the cabinet ministers who are most sceptical about what a senior government source called "US adventurism" in Baghdad.

An invasion of Iraq is seen as harder to justify than the military action in Afghanistan and Kosovo, where the Cabinet was virtually unanimous. There are worries about civilian casualties, the lack of a UN mandate and the risk of escalating the Middle East conflict leave many troubled. Some also fear that the coalition against terrorism could be seriously undermined. But Mr Blair argues that if President George Bush goes ahead then there is nothing the UK can do. What it can do is use its influence to help "manage" the build-up, execution and aftermath of any invasion.

The threat posed by Saddam Hussein is real in the minds of many – particularly Jack Straw, David Blunkett and Geoff Hoon, who have seen intelligence reports. Building a coalition, publishing a dossier and getting a post-Saddam democracy in place are the real concerns of ministers, rather than stopping the war, sources say.

This is where the differences lie. Mr Straw, the Foreign Secretary, is concerned about the impact on the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, and Gordon Brown, the Chancellor, needs to work out the effect on the global economy. But, contrary to reports, neither opposes regime change in Iraq per se.

The overwhelming majority of the Cabinet take a pragmatic line, with Alan Milburn and Estelle Morris among those keen to back the Prime Minister. Some are perturbed that Mr Blair decides most foreign policy and military issues with advisers instead of the full Cabinet, but have been reassured they will debate Iraq before any action takes place. Mr Blair knows he will face more opposition from the rank and file than the Cabinet and understands some ministers will want to make themselves popular by expressing "concerns".

However, Downing Street will have the support of its payroll vote and the Tories in any parliamentary debate. When he returns from holiday, Mr Blair is likely to repeat that no decisions have been taken. Aides say that what he would really like is to use Condoleezza Rice's words from this week: "The West doesn't have the luxury of doing nothing."