THE US/BRITAIN: Conservative leader Mr Michael Howard has reportedly incurred the wrath of the White House for failing to stand "shoulder to shoulder" with Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair over the war in Iraq. Frank Millar in London reports
Suggestions of Washington fury with Mr Howard emerged in the Spectator magazine yesterday following his demand that Mr Blair speak out publicly when he disagrees with President Bush.
As the British Foreign Secretary, Mr Jack Straw, accused Mr Howard of playing "the cheapest of party politics" with the morale of British forces in Iraq, Republican Congressman Mr Peter King accused the Conservatives of urging a course of action which would only "encourage the enemy".
In his latest divergence from Mr Blair over the handling of the post-conflict situation in Iraq, Mr Howard accused the British government of making policy "on the hoof" and Mr Blair of creating "a new doctrine" under which any advice he offers the US on policy remains secret. Writing in the London Independent, Mr Howard asserted the Anglo-American alliance should remain the anchor of British foreign policy but insisted the partnership "should always be a candid one".
Defending himself against charges of "naked opportunism", Mr Howard told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "It is very convenient for him (Mr Blair), this new doctrine of confidentiality, because it means that we never know whether or when he does disagree and it means there can be no meaningful accountability to Parliament." Mr Howard contrasted Mr Blair's approach with that of Margaret Thatcher, who, despite her close relationship with President Reagan, had spoken out when she disagreed with him, as over the invasion of Grenada in 1983.
And he again argued that his support for the war and for the work of British troops did not disqualify him from "asking legitimate questions" about the conduct of events in Iraq now.
"Of course I don't want him (Mr Blair) to speak against America," said Mr Howard. "But we have the most extraordinary position where anybody who reads the American newspapers knows exactly when Colin Powell, the US Secretary of State, disagrees with the president. We never know when or whether the prime minister disagrees with the president."
In his newspaper article Mr Howard pointed to conflicting signals from inside Whitehall about the extent of the authority to be transferred to the interim Iraqi government on June 30th and said: "Any British government needs the trust and confidence of the people it represents and nowhere is this more important than in Iraq. More clarity, more competence and more candour would help enormously. It is my duty as leader of the opposition to press for this to happen."
However, Mr Blair told yesterday's cabinet any open disagreement with the US over Iraq risked damaging the morale of troops.
And former minister Mr Peter Mandelson accused the Tory leader of clambering aboard the anti-American "bandwagon", having previously been "gung-ho" for military action against Iraq.
Two men who threw purple flour bombs at Mr Blair and forced the suspension of the Commons on Wednesday were charged yesterday under the Public Order Act.