The Tories have accused Tony Blair of holding parliament in "obvious contempt" after senior government ministers snubbed an opposition debate on Afghanistan.

During business questions, shadow Commons leader, Eric Forth claimed that the prime minister's "contempt for parliament is becoming more and more obvious".

Highlighting Blair's voting record in the House of Commons, three per cent, Forth attacked the PM for failing to attend last night's opposition emergency debate on UK military involvement in Afghanistan.

"It would appear that the prime minister was not present for a debate on military involvement in Afghanistan not even to support the secretary of state or our young men," he claimed.

And he expressed Conservative anger over reports that Blair was instead discussing fox hunting at a meeting of Labour MPs.

"If the prime minister seriously believes that foxes are more important than the lives of our young men and women in uniform, then he should be ashamed of himself and come to the house to make an apology," he said.

Responding to the charge, the Commons leader dismissed reports that Blair had discussed hunting in preference to a UK combat mission in Afghanistan.

While he had attended the meeting of Labour MPs, Robin Cook told MPs, the PM had in fact left the meeting early for talks with Australia's prime minister, John Howard.

"I am glad the prime minister has the respect of other heads of government," he said.

And Cook poured scorn on Tory claims that the government had snubbed an "emergency" discussion on Afghanistan saying "I was under impression that the debate was to demonstrate support".

"We are of course grateful for loyal support."

Cook continued with a mock apology for Tory "hurt" that there had not been enough ministers present for the debate.

"If [the Conservatives] really want to demonstrate support then they should say so clearly and unequivocally and stop party political point scoring," he concluded.