LIBERAL Democrat leader Charles Kennedy has attacked Blackburn MP Jack Straw over the war on Iraq.

He accused the Foreign Secretary of not understanding the concept of liberalism or principle.

In his keynote leader speech to the Liberal Democrat Conference in Brighton, he accused the government of forcing the country to war, despite widespread public doubts.

He said Prime Minister Tony Blair, Mr Straw and a "small clique" of advisors foisted the invasion of Iraq on the nation.

He demanded a new independent inquiry into the entire basis which the country was led into a war that was now having damaging consequences.

He said the country was "in despair" about this shop-soiled government. Then he turned on Mr Straw saying that all 53 Liberal Democrat MPs voted against military action -- one of the reasons why the 54th Sarah Teather sensationally won the Labour seat of Brent East in a by-election last week.

Mr Kennedy went on: "Jack Straw taunted us at the time about the iron discipline of the Liberal Democrats. He was jealous of course.

"But in truth this wasn't iron discipline, Jack. It was iron principle. Liberal principle. Two words which this government simply doesn't understand -- Liberal and principle. And its principle which inspires trust."

And Mr Kennedy attacked Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith and his Shadow Cabinet colleagues for "criticising the consequences of a war for which they were the principal cheerleaders."

"This is a leadership of charlatans and chancers. At the time, they asked none of the key questions. That was left to us."