Tories accuse Brown of Iraq photo op

Last Modified: 02 Oct 2007
By: Cathy Newman

Gordon Brown's visit to Iraq has been blasted by shadow Defence Secretary Liam Fox as little short of a photo opportunity.

The Iraq troop announcement has caught the Conservatives on the back foot at their conference in Blackpool, although the shadow Defence Secretary Liam Fox was quick to accuse Mr Brown of seeking to use British soldiers for his own photo opportunity.

He said Labour's policy on the armed forces was an 'insult'. but with rumours of flurried meetings at Number Ten, this is fast turning into a general election campaign in all but name.

Attack on Labour

The Conservatives have accused Gordon Brown of insulting British troops abroad and of failing the military Liam Fox also said the PM's announcement on Iraq was nothing more than a photo opportunity.

In his speech in Blackpool, he promised to increase the size of the army and added that the Tories would improve conditions for soldiers.

Former Prime Minister John Major also criticised Mr Brown for failing to announce the troop withdrawals to the House of Commons first.