Labour rebels: Susan Deacon and John McAllion

Labour will travel to Dundee next weekend with splits appearing in the party's stance on war with Iraq.

Former Health Minister Susan Deacon and backbencher John McAllion want delegates to discuss the issues in an open forum.

Last week MSPs narrowly voted in favour of the government's policy against Iraq.

Closed meeting

On Saturday, Health Minister Malcolm Chisholm said he deeply regretted having backed the government's policy on Iraq in the Holyrood vote.

He described his decision as "immoral" and urged other people in the Labour Party to speak out against the war.

Mr McAllion and Ms Deacon were amongst those who rebelled in the Holyrood vote.

Party activists should now be allowed to have their say, according to Mr McAllion.

An open debate would be more honest - and ultimately less damaging Susan Deacon

He said: "At the moment I understand that what is planned is to hold a closed meeting for Labour delegates where John Reid (party chairman) will answer questions about the war.

"That is not good enough.

"We want a debate where people can actually vote and the Labour Party can take a position.

"If MPs and MSPs can vote on the war, the Labour Party can vote on a war as well."

'Not disloyal'

Ms Deacon also urged the party to debate the crisis at its Dundee conference.

She said: "It is simply not acceptable that debate on this issue be consigned to a closed question-and-answer session, the tea-room and the conference fringe.

"An open debate would be more honest - and ultimately less damaging."