McDonnell says it's 'Time to Go'

Army, MPs and public united in call for withdrawal... Blair and Brown view increasingly isolated

Last night John McDonnell MP appeared on BBC Newsnight to comment on the Lancet report on casualties in Iraq. On the programme he proposed that Britain and the US should start by admitting that the invasion of Iraq was a mistake and appreciate that Britain and the US are not part of the solution but part of the problem.

Within 24 hours that view has been largely endorsed within 24 hours by the Chief of Staff of the British Army, Sir Richard Dannatt.

John McDonnell MP, Labour leadership challenger, said:

"The reality is that it is the overwhelming opinion of the British people that British troops should withdraw and that this has now been confirmed by the professional judgement of Britain's most senior military leader.

"In the name of reason and humanity the Government must now act and bring forward an exit strategy. The Government appears to be paralysed by indecision on this issue.

"Anyone offering themselves as candidates to lead this country must demonstrate now that they are capable of leading on this critical question and indeed have an exit strategy to remove this country from this disastrous mess we have been taken into by the current cabinet.

"I am calling upon the Government to bring before Parliament in the next week its strategy for withdrawal so that Parliament can decide."