TORY MP James Gray, who never rose above the rank of private, has been made an honorary Brigadier in time to visit British troops in southern Iraq.

The North Wiltshire MP is spending an arduous week in the Basra area to assess efforts to rebuild the country.

Mr Gray has been told to wear red tabs on the shoulders of his military uniform to signify the illustrious rank he achieved after passing a parliamentary course.

But he was likely to have few opportunities to wear that uniform on the front line with service people who helped drive Saddam Hussein out of power.

The MP was being given just one third of a pint of water each day for washing and shaving and was warned he would be sleeping beneath a four tonne plane.

Mr Gray was among eight MPs asked to join the trip because of his strong interest in the military, which saw him join the Royal College for Defence Studies course.

He said: "I am particularly keen to find out how we conducted the Basra operation and what a contrast there may be to the American operation in Baghdad.

"I wanted to see how we are progressing with the rebuilding both the infrastructure and the government and local government structures."

To his regret, Mr Gray flew from Brize Norton, in Oxford-shire, rather than Lyneham, the base for the Hercules planes that flew missions during the war.

To be awarded the rank of Brigadier, Mr Gray was required him to join army training camps and write a thesis on who decides when Britain goes to war.

Ironically, the MP never rose above the grade of private during seven years in the Honorary Artillery company of the Territorial Army.

The trip came as the government prepares to announce the future of Lyneham.

Mr Gray said: "The fate of Lyneham remains uncertain but I expect we will have an announcement in the next few weeks."

He will be home tomorrow.