Lib Dems attack Blair over Iraq

Menzies Campbell said British troops should be pulled out of Iraq

The UK Government presided over "a catalogue of failure" before and during the Iraq war, Liberal Democrats have been told.

Addressing the Scottish Lib Dems' spring conference in Perth, party foreign affairs spokesman Menzies Campbell criticised Tony Blair.

He urged the prime minister to publish the legal advice on the case for war.

Sir Menzies said it was Mr Blair's "nagging tooth" - "occasionally quiet, but capable of flaring up at any time".

Sir Menzies stressed that the immediate challenge was to rebuild the country and pull out British troops.

But he said it was not possible to overlook past problems and called for the legal advice on the case for war to be published.

I believe the conduct of foreign affairs in the most recent past by our government will go right to the very heart of the issue of trust and credibility Sir Menzies Campbell

Doubts about the war's legality could undermine Britain's long-term reputation in foreign policy, he said.

Sir Menzies said that while foreign affairs did not generally determine elections, the issue of trust would dominate the coming general election.

"I believe the conduct of foreign affairs in the most recent past by our government will go right to the very heart of the issue of trust and credibility," he said.

"It is now accepted that this government presided over a catalogue of failure, deeply damaging to British interests and expensive in reputation, influence and lives."

Income tax plan

Delegates were also told that by charging higher income tax, the Lib Dems would abolish tuition fees and improve care for the elderly.

He said taxing those who earn more than £100,000 a year would help provide enough money to fund other areas.

Outlining the party's tax plans, Sir Menzies said: "We would be willing to ask those who earn more than £100,000 per annum to pay a little more by way of income tax.

"We could then fund and improve pensions and abolish tuition fees and make proper provision for the elderly throughout the UK, not just here in Scotland."