The Government has been accused of showing "flagrant contempt" for Parliament after a day-long Commons debate on Iraq ended without a vote being taken.
Anti-war MPs were predicting a "reasonable" rebellion against the Prime Minister, who earlier came under fire for staying away from Parliament during the debate, preferring to address a CBI conference in central London on public service reform.
Left-wing MPs accused the Government of refusing to provide tellers at the end of the debate so that no vote could be taken.
There were scenes of confusion among MPs when they realised what had happened, leading to complaints that they had not been allowed to table their opposition to the conflict in Iraq.
John McDonnell, Labour MP for Hayes and Harlington, who has declared that he will stand as a candidate for the Labour leadership said: "The refusal of the Prime Minister to even attend the debate and the refusal by the Government to allow Parliament a direct vote on anything other than a meaningless procedural motion demonstrates a flagrant contempt for accountability to Parliament and to the country."
Anti-war protesters staged demonstrations outside Parliament throughout the debate.
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