Another chance

His laboured witticism was intended to convey the idea that he had spent a great deal of time and energy on international issues - especially the invasion of Iraq - but would now be concentrating on domestic questions.

In the final furlong to the general election, which is rumoured to be pencilled in for next May, Mr Blair will be hoping to concentrate on political knockabout with Tory leader Michael Howard as each of them tries to win electoral support for their version of "consumer choice."

But one main obstacle lies in the way of the Prime Minister's efforts to announce business as usual - Iraq.

UN secretary general Kofi Annan's blunt description of the war on Iraq as "not in conformity with the security council, with the UN charter" and, therefore, illegal makes it impossible once again for Mr Blair to sweep his war crimes under the carpet.

Iraq is not yesterday's controversy. It affects everyday life in Iraq and in Britain.

Dozens, if not hundreds, are being slaughtered in Iraq each week. How many is uncertain since the occupying powers have voiced their complete lack of interest in tallying the dead if they are Iraqi.

And, apart from the casualties suffered by British troops, the people of this country are paying out billions of pounds to finance our government's criminal endeavours.

At a time when students are still being hammered with tuition fees and pensioners are offered means-tested benefits instead of a state pension linked to earnings, the spectacle of working people's tax contributions being squandered in Iraq on an illegal military occupation ought to revolt public opinion.

It certainly had that effect at the TUC congress in Brighton, where delegates wholeheartedly backed the motion put forward by NATFHE, the university and college lecturers' union.

The motion affirmed its solidarity with the emerging independent trade union movement as a vital force in creating a secular and democratic Iraq.

And it also reaffirmed its opposition to the occupation of the country, calling for the speedy withdrawal of the US-led forces and the dismantling of the occupiers' military bases.

The TUC opposed the war on Iraq, but it failed to build on that position by playing a leadership role alongside the Stop the War Coalition, CND, the Muslim Association of Britain.

It could have assisted those individual unions that involved themselves fully in the peace movement and displayed traditional labour movement qualities of internationalism and solidarity with which many participants who are not involved with trade unionism may have been unfamiliar.

It was an opportunity missed, but the congress resolution presents another chance.

It is not too late for the organised labour movement to back the ongoing battle to bring British troops back from an illegal and self-defeating conflict and to ensure an end to our government's slavish support for US imperialism's aggressive wars.