David Cameron may face a fresh backbench rebellion in the House of Commons as MPs seek to block the abolition of the post of chief coroner for England and Wales.
Conservative MP Andrew Percy has tabled an amendment to the Public Bodies Bill which would force the Government to appoint a chief coroner to the office, designed to speed up the handling of inquests into fallen servicemen and women.
Labour predicted that more Tories would join them in voting to save the post, though any rebellion is not expected to be on the scale of Monday night's revolt over Europe.
The chief coroner's post was established by the last Labour administration with the aim of ensuring that inquests into troops' deaths are carried out promptly and effectively, but the coalition Government announced it would scrap the role without anyone ever having been appointed.
The decision was last year branded a "deep betrayal of bereaved service families" by the Royal British Legion.
Shadow Cabinet Office minister Michael Dugher will urge Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke to remove the chief coroner from a list of public posts being abolished by the Bill in a "bonfire of the quangos".
He said that the new post would ensure that military inquests were set up quickly and conducted by coroners with specialist training, saving service families from waiting months to learn how their loved ones died.
Mr Dugher said: "David Cameron should show he is listening, show some leadership and rethink this bad decision. Bereaved families including those from the forces deserve better.
"Ministers are happy to wear poppies on their lapels at this time of remembrance. It is now time to show they mean it when they say they will support the armed forces and their families."