Iraq: Number 10 plays down Clegg war opposition

Mr Clegg voiced his strong opposition to the war as he stood in at the Commons dispatch box for David Cameron at Prime Minister's Questions.

His position was later disowned by Number 10, which stressed that the Liberal Democrat leader was articulating his "individual" view.

In common with most Tory MPs, Mr Cameron – who is on a visit to the US supported the 2003 invasion.

Mr Clegg's comments came during an exchange with Labour's shadow justice secretary Jack Straw, who was Tony Blair's Foreign Secretary when the US-led offensive began.

"I'm happy to account for everything we are doing in this coalition Government, which has brought together two parties, working in the national interest to sort out the mess that you left behind," Mr Clegg said.

"Perhaps one day you could account for your role in the most disastrous decision of all, which is the illegal invasion of Iraq."

A Downing Street spokesman insisted Mr Clegg's remarks were not

Government policy, adding that the legality of the invasion was

currently being studied by the Iraq Inquiry.

"The coalition Government has not expressed a view on the legality or otherwise of the Iraq conflict," the spokesman said.

"But that does not mean that individual members of the Government should not express their individual views.

"These are long held views of the Deputy Prime Minister.

"The Iraq Inquiry is currently examining many issues surrounding the UK's involvement in Iraq, including the legal basis of the war.

"The Government looks forward to receiving the inquiry's conclusions."

Yesterday was Mr Clegg's first appearance deputising for Mr Cameron at PMQs since the two men came together in the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition.

His remarks about Iraq served to underline the two parties' deep and long-standing differences on the conflict.

Earlier this year Lib Dem frontbencher Ed Davey – now a Business Minister – said Mr Cameron had got Iraq "badly wrong" and called on him to apologise.