UK News 30-09-2004 Bliar! who: Michael Howard what: Says Tony Blair lied about Iraq when: snippet: "Michael Howard sought to maximise Tony Blair’s discomfort over Iraq yesterday," says The Times, "when he for the first time accused him directly of lying to the British public over Iraq." "Iraq has been the catalyst for the distrust with which people regard the present government," says the Tory leader, interviewed in today`s New Statesman magazine and repeated in The Independent. "I think people hold the view pretty firmly now that they were lied to over Iraq. I don`t think that`s the only thing they were lied to about, but Iraq is the great catalyst for the loss of trust in the Government." Mr Howard says the prime minister took intelligence that was "hedged with qualifications, caveats and warnings" and he translated it into "certainties". When asked if he was lied to, he says: "Over Iraq, yes". "The charge that a Prime Minister has lied is one of the most serious that can be laid at a senior politician`s door," says The Telegraph. "If Mr Howard could demonstrate conclusively to the Commons that Mr Blair had been untruthful, he would almost certainly have to resign." [... more]

What The Papers Say is delivered to thousands of readers every morning by web, WAP and email. Sign up today!