With Britain on the brink of war with Iraq, the Fire Brigades Union is likely to call off the 24-hour strike over pay planned for Thursday.

John Prescott, the deputy prime minister, has refused to meet FBU leaders, saying it was up to them to call off the action, which would occupy up 19,000 military personnel in providing cover.

"The ball is in the FBU court," a Whitehall official said. "The union would be mad to strike on Thursday. It would lose all public support."