Responding to on Jack Straw's criticism of Liberal Democrat policy calling for full UK troop withdrawal from Iraq by October, Liberal Democrat Peer Lord (Paddy) Ashdown of Norton-sub-Hamdon said:

"Ming Campbell is almost certainly articulating in public what the Service Chiefs are recommending in private to the Government.

"It is never wrong for a Lib Dem Leader to be ahead of events. And Ming has been.

"He was right and ahead of his time in what he has said in the past and he is ahead of the curve now.

"He has responded to changing situation and looking to the future - it is clear that the same cannot be said of Mr Straw.

"It is scandalous that, while British soldiers are facing death in Iraq, Mr Blair was not prepared to explain his policies face to face in a debate the House of Commons."