Blair launches passionate defence of war on Iraq

BRITISH Prime Minister Tony Blair yesterday launched a passionate defence of the war on Iraq and said there would be no turning back from controversial policies on foundation hospitals and university tuition fees

Mr Blair, speaking as his party's annual conference was getting underway in Bournemouth, also denied he had ever done a deal with Chancellor Gordon Brown to step down as premier and make way for his colleague. The prime minister told the BBC's Breakfast With Frost programme that even with the benefit of hindsight he would not have done anything different in Iraq.

He said: "I would have done exactly the same. I think we did the right thing in removing Saddam Hussein.