KENT MPs are split on Tony Blair’s handling of the Iraq war and divided over calls for an independent inquiry into whether intelligence reports were doctored.

Although they are on opposite sides, the calls for an independent inquiry have been backed by the Faversham and Mid Kent Conservative MP Hugh Robertson and Labour MP Bob Marshall-Andrews.

Tony Blair has denied intelligence documents on Iraq's weapons programmes were changed to boost the case for war, saying the allegations were “completely and totally untrue".

At the same time, he announced Parliament's all-party Intelligence and Security Committee would be conducting an inquiry into the row but ruled out a Judicial Inquiry. The Foreign Affairs Select Committee will also be carrying out its own inquiry.

Mr Robertson, who served in the last Gulf conflict, said: "If he [Tony Blair] has either misled MPs, or embellished the evidence to suit his case, it would be a matter of the utmost severity. An inquiry is now clearly needed to clear the air."

"I supported the government on the basis that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction which, in the hands of terrorists, would pose a direct threat to the United Kingdom.

"In doing so, I accepted that the intelligence to support this was highly sensitive and thus could not be revealed. I, therefore, had to take the Prime Minister on trust and presumed that he would not mislead MPs on so fundamental an issue.”

Labour rebel Bob Marshall-Andrews, who along with Sittingbourne and Sheppey MP Derek Wyatt has signed an Early Day Motion calling on the Government to publish all the evidence it used to justify war, said: “Parliament was almost certainly misled on this issue.

"It is very serious. There must be an inquiry outside Parliament and outside the control of the whips."

But Chatham and Aylesford Labour MP Jonathan Shaw said he backed the Prime Minister’s judgement.

“He has been absolutely clear and unequivocal and he knows that the information on which he based his decisions will be subject to considerable scrutiny. This is an example of the right wing press trying to undermine the Prime Minister,” he said.

Dover MP Gwyn Prosser, who voted against the war, said he was prepared to give the Prime Minister more time to produce the evidence that Iraq had been a genuine threat.

“I was never persuaded, either then or now, that the evidence pointed to an immediate threat. The Prime Minister does need to account for all the statements he has made and I would be concerned if, in six months time, there is no clear evidence of these weapons.”