Tory whip quits over Iraq

Conservative whip John Randall has resigned because he does not consider a case has been made out for war on Iraq.

He is the first opposition MP to have taken such a step on this issue.

There are some other Conservative backbenchers who are vocally against a war.

Mr Randall, 47, the MP for Uxbridge, said: "I wanted the freedom of the backbenches to be able to express my views about Iraq.

"I do not think at this stage military action is justified.

"I was, in fact, against war in Kosovo when people like Clare Short were all for bombing the hell out of it."

Mr Randall said that he actually resigned on Wednesday but thought it would be unhelpful, in view of other events, to make it public until now.

"Mr Duncan Smith, whose leadership I support, said he was sorry to lose me but added that he always understood when people had matters of principle like this."

He entered Parliament in a by-election in July, 1997 and was appointed an opposition whip in 2000.

He is a specialist ornithologist and is married with three children.

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