As the Trades Union Congress (TUC) gets underway in Blackpool on Sunday Tony Blair will be aware he faces a tough time from his party's traditional allies.

Already, union leaders have expressed concern that the Iraq situation may obscure a raft of other issues, such as public service reform.

John Monks, general secretary of the TUC, said he expected the prospect of war with Iraq and the timing of UK entry into the single currency to dominate the agenda.

Anticipating that prospect, a senior British official said Mr Blair would tell delegates during his conference speech that the UN was the right organisation to deal with the issue of Iraq.

The two rail unions, the RMT and Aslef, had also tabled an emergency motion opposing any form of military intervention in Iraq.

But the TUC organising committee turned down this request.

The conference will instead consider an official motion calling for any diplomatic or military action to be undertaken under UN resolutions.

Conflict

Mr Monks accused the prime minister of acting in a "presidential" way and said he should consult his cabinet before committing British troops.

"There is a long way to go before he convinces people generally that the war is worth fighting in this area," he told GMTV on Sunday.

Blair: frosty reception due from TUC delegates

GMB leader John Edmonds spoke of the overwhelming feeling of TUC delegates that war should not be contemplated without total UN support.

"War against a member state in the 21st century should only be a matter of last resort, sanctified and sanctioned by the UN.

"It does not sound to me that the UN is being asked to sanction any action. This is a desperate situation."

He added: "This is not a time for cowboy tactics. It is a time for reflection."

Bob Crow, leader of the RMT, told BBC News Online Tony Blair risked a "meltdown" in support if he went to war.

He said: "If Blair follows Bush into this crude grab for crude oil and it results in more civilian deaths, they will be seen by millions around the world as war criminals.

"There should be mass protest outside any bases used for an attack on Iraq."

Parliament recall

Elsewhere, veteran Labour MP Tam Dalyell, Father of the House, told BBC1's Breakfast with Frost programme that Parliament should be recalled, preferably before the Labour Party conference.

"It is very important that American opinion should know the diversity of opinion in the British Parliament," he said.

The prime minister must name his date for a recall

Paul Keetch, Lib Dem defence spokesman

Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy, speaking on Sky News, urged that Parliament should be recalled before the conference season got under way.

"But I am not hopeful," he admitted.

"I don't think it is going to happen. I think the government is making a mistake."

His colleague Paul Keetch, the Liberal Democrat defence spokesman, said: "If Britain is to pay a blood price as a political rather than a military necessity, then it is Parliament that should make that decision.

The prime minister must name his date for a recall."

However, shadow defence secretary Bernard Jenkin said the Conservative party would not play political games on the issue.

He added: "The idea that decisions are being made behind the scenes and that we are being hustled into a war we don't want is rubbish."

The growing pensions crisis, the future of public services, low pay and anti-union laws are among the other issues jostling for debating space at the TUC conference.

Each one could bring delegates into conflict with the government.