LONDON (Reuters) - The United States has come up against resistance from a new quarter as it considers plans to take military action against Iraq -- British rock bands. Reuters Photo The campaign started last week with dance music trio Massive Attack signing up for the "Stop the War" campaign, headed by the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament pressure group, and Tuesday it was taken up by "Britpop" icons Blur and rockers Elbow. "The pressure needs to be put on (Prime Minister) Tony Blair ( news - web sites)," Elbow lead singer Guy Garvey told Reuters on Tuesday, referring to Blair's refusal to rule out British involvement in a possible invasion. "People have to realize innocent people are dying in their name," he added. "He (Blair) needs to know he won't be elected again if he keeps doing this." Pollsters NOP found recently that 52 percent of Britons oppose military action against Iraqi President Saddam Hussein ( news - web sites). Music Web site www.nme.com quoted Blur vocalist Damon Albarn as saying: "There has to be public debate about this. We need a democratic discussion about the rights and wrongs of going to war." Blur dominated the Britpop genre of the 1990s with anthems such as "Park Life" and "Girls and Boys," while UK music award-nominees Elbow are best know for the track "Asleep in the Back." As well as rock bands, numerous politicians, social groups and even the incoming Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, have expressed disquiet about possible military action against Iraq. This is not the first time British artists have criticized U.S. foreign policy since the Sept. 11 hijacked airliner attacks on New York and Washington. Most recently, singer George Michael released a controversial video to his single "Shoot the Dog," portraying President Bush ( news - web sites) as a cowboy and Blair as his pet poodle. British dance music legends Primal Scream have long been harshly critical of U.S. foreign policy, although they were recently diplomatic enough to re-record a song that they first played in August 2001 under the name "Bomb the Pentagon ( news - web sites)." Washington and London are considering action against Baghdad although both governments insist no decision has been made. Reuters/Variety