THE decision to push hundreds of British soldiers into new areas of Iraq has been condemned by North Wiltshire MP James Gray, pictured.

He declared himself unhappy with the plans to redeploy 650 combat troops from The Black Watch as replacements for American units.

He said: "Black Watch are being redeployed for political reasons rather than military ones.

"It underlines the fact there seems to be no proper exit strategy for British forces in Iraq.

"Increasingly it looks as if we are being sucked deeper and deeper into the mire."