The Crown prerogative enables the Prime Minister, constitutionally, on behalf of the sovereign and in the name of her government, to undertake military action without asking for Parliament’s consent. Many are concerned that Mr Blair might use this prerogative to prevent Parliament and the Cabinet expressing an opinion until after military action has commenced.But it is inconceivable that Mr Blair would take such action without the clear and unambiguous support of his cabinet colleagues. He would surely want to do everything to avoid even one resignation. So we can be fairly certain that all cabinet ministers will have their say in a cabinet debate before final decisions are taken. Which is why it is a little difficult to understand why so much fuss is being made about the role of Robin Cook, the Leader of the House, whose friends report that he is the ringleader of the dissenters.

My respect for Mr Cook as Leader of the House knows no bounds. He has become a genuine champion for backbench MPs.But Mr Cook must know that he may be past the half-way mark of his ministerial career and that many will therefore question, rightly or wrongly, his motives. The suspicion must be that the publicity around him has as much to do with extending his tenure in government by posing as a champion of Labour backbenchers – thus making himself unsackable. Rumours are surfacing that while there are a growing number of “doves” in the Cabinet, they are angry that Mr Cook, through his emissaries, has taken such a high profile.Earlier this summer, to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the Falklands war, the former defence secretary Sir John Nott published one of the best insights into the stresses and strains of serving in the Thatcher cabinets.

He describes disagreements on fundamental issues, such as her government’s economic policies. Cabinet meetings were far different from the image of a domineering Prime Minister with docile backing from cabinet poodles. What is clear, from his recollection, is that the restraining influences in curbing Margaret Thatcher’s over-enthusiasm came from those normally thought of as “one of us”, rather than from those who were renowned for their hostility. Similarly, it will not be Mr Cook or Clare Short who will make the difference in moving this Cabinet into a “dove” position. More likely, it will be the ministers with the most “Brownite” or even “Blairite” credentials.Not that Mr Blair is as gung-ho for war as perhaps he has been painted. His constant refrain that no decisions have been taken might be an indication that he is actually dreading the White House hotline bursting into life from the other side of the Atlantic, with President Bush suddenly drawling, “Tony, we go in tonight”.