IN THE period prior to the invasion of Iraq the Evening Advertiser conducted a survey that showed 80 per cent of people in Swindon were opposed to war.

Despite this the two Swindon Members of Parliament backed Tony Blair, claiming that they were elected to do what they thought best and not as the electorate wished. They were at one with the Prime Minister.

It is now obvious that there were no weapons of mass destruction (if there had been Saddam would have used them) and the claim that he was a threat to anyone other than the people of Iraq is clearly ludicrous.Yet Tony Blair demands that his critics produce evidence to prove he lied.

Whether the Prime Minister lied is not the issue. The fact is thousands of innocent people, including British servicemen, died in vain and billions of pounds have been wasted.

The population of Iraq, having suffered 12 years of sanctions plus the repression of Saddam, now face starvation and disease.

There is no legitimate government, no law and order and hospitals and museums have been looted. Yet in Parliament Tony Blair tried to justify the invasion on the basis that the Iraqi people are now "free".

There must be vast numbers of people in that country who would gladly give up Blair's so-called freedom for food, clean water, medical care and law and order.

The responsibility for what has happened lies with Tony Blair and those who voted with him in Parliament. They have blood on their hands. The only honourable thing they can do is resign.

If they will not, the people have a duty to remove them at the next election.

R W BANISTER

Freshbrook