THE question of whether the war on Iraq was justified or even legally safe in light of the failure so far to find any weapons of mass destruction has left parties divided.

Labour has been left bruised by former members who opposed the conflict and who are now pressuring for the evidence that will back up claims that Saddam Hussein could launch an attack in 45 minutes.

Lawyers for peace campaigners have reportedly questioned the legality of the second Gulf War now that no such weapons have been found.

Prime Minister Tony Blair's supporters believe the fact that there was existing international law governing the existence of weapons of mass destruction and the threat they posed to the UK were sufficient to make up for the fact that there was not a second UN resolution to back up the war.

But the fact no "smoking gun" has been found has prompted the Conservatives to call for an independent inquiry into how the case for war was made.

The Guardian approached the MPs for Eddisbury, Weaver Vale, Tatton and Congleton for their views on the issue.

l George Osborne, MP for Tatton, said: "I remain totally convinced that the war in Iraq was the right thing to do. For moral reasons because Saddam Hussein was a hideous dictator and every time we uncover a mass grave in Iraq it reinforces the reasons for what we did.

"I myself remain convinced that Saddam had weapons of mass destruction, the means with which to get them because he has used them before and the motive.

"Whether we find them or not - it is a big country after all - I remain absolutely convinced that he had the capacity to produce them."

Speaking on the claims that Tony Blair 'span up' the intelligence information, Mr Osborne said: "If it emerges that he deliberately exaggerated the evidence, then I think it's a very serious charge and I think he will have to answer that charge in due course."

l Labour's Mike Hall, MP for Weaver Vale, said: "The war was successful and Saddam Hussein, who was one of the most evil dictators, was removed from office. The aims of the war were achieved and now we are starting the process of rebuilding Iraq.

"We need to take it forward and build a representative government for the people of Iraq. And then there is the on-going search for weapons of mass destruction. There are dedicated teams now in Iraq on the issue of looking for weapons of mass destruction.

"The reason for going in was that he was not co-operating with article 144 of the UN resolution."

He added: "What this is all about is people who were against that war trying to find ways of raising it again. They are trying to reopen the argument.

"What we've got to do now is get the humanitarian aid in place and operating properly. In terms of weapons of mass destruction, the intelligence committee will report on it.

"What's important now is that we continue with the work that's now necessary in Iraq and rebuild."

l Lady Ann Winterton, MP for Congleton, pictured above, said: "I think that it is still early days for the Prime Minister and the allies to be proven right about weapons of mass destruction although all the authorities before the conflict believed there were weapons of mass destruction including the UN as Hans Blix and other officers would not have gone into Iraq 10 years ago or more recently.

"Bearing in mind the size of the country it will take some time. I do not believe it is not the first priority it should be to get the country up and running and to establish a democracy and humanitarian aid and other aid should be given to the people that need it.

"Following the conflict are huge mass graves and there is no doubt, whether weapons of mass destruction are discovered or not, and I believe they will be in due course, that I believe a regime change was necessary and the mass graves show this."

l Stephen O'Brien, Eddisbury MP, could not be contacted for comment on the issue of Iraq and weapons of mass destruction.

A spokesman for the MP said: "Unfortunately Stephen has been on the Conservative's front bench for the issue of the Euro this week and this has meant the Euro question took up so much of his time."