NOW that Tony Blair has finally admitted that no weapons of mass destruction may be found in Iraq, will he remind us that the sole reason for Britain refusing to let the UN arms inspectors complete their work was that these weapons were said to pose an imminent threat?

As late as March 12 last year, with no apparent concern for the human rights of Iraqi people, the Prime Minister told the House of Commons that Saddam Hussein's regime could stay in power so long as he disarmed.

Blair took the decision to send British troops into an illegal war because he was desperate to follow the path dictated by George W Bush. Surely it is time that Britain made it clear that it will no longer dance to every tune played by the White House?

The Labour Government should start by insisting that the British citizens imprisoned by the US at Guantanamo Bay should either be charged and given access to lawyers, or released.

The same principle should apply to the foreign nationals locked away here for more than two years without charge. Fundamental principles of justice have for too long been sacrificed for the sake of the Bush-Blair axis.

CHRIS DAVIES, Liberal Democrat MEP for the North West.