Blair's hopes dashed of evading Iraq as election issue

Tony Blair's hopes of evading Iraq as an election issue were dashed yesterday by the killing of the 50th British soldier in hostile action since the conflict, renewed violence on the streets and damaging accusations from the brother of murdered hostage Ken Bigley.

Writing in The Independent Paul Bigley, the brother of British hostage Ken Bigley, claims Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, privately urged him to issue a public apology to Mr Blair to avoid his criticism of the Government harming Mr Blair's bid for a third election victory.

Mr Straw, who was accompanied by a private secretary when the alleged conversation took place, last night strongly denied he had raised the election with Mr Bigley.

However, Mr Bigley claimed he had a 'vivid recollection' of the conversation, which he says took place following a memorial service for his brother in Liverpool last October.

Mr Bigley also revealed he is backing Reg Keys, whose son died in Iraq, in his stand against Mr Blair in his Sedgefield constituency.

In a further blow to Mr Blair's election campaign, the Ministry of Defence confirmed that Anthony John Wakefield, a 24-year-old Coldstream Guardsman, died after being hit by shrapnel while on patrol near the town of Al Amarah at about midnight Iraqi time on Sunday night.

Guardsman Wakefield, a married father-of-three from Newcastle upon Tyne, is the first British soldier to die in hostile action in the south of Iraq this year. His death takes to 50 the number of British service personnel killed in hostile action since the conflict began two years ago and the 87th to die in Operation Telic - the name given to the British military operation in Iraq.

Last night the dead soldier's wife, Ann, said: "I heard a knock at the door at 3.30 this morning and knew instantly what had happened. "I answered the door to a man in a smart suit who handed me his card saying he was from the MOD.

"I am devastated and shocked. He was such a brave man. I had two children with him and I am trying to explain to them that their dad won't be coming home. It is very, very hard, it is only just beginning to sink in."

Lt Col Andrew Williams, commanding officer of 1st Batallion the Staffordshire Regiment, which is serving alongside the Coldstream Guards, said Guardsman Wakefield was acting as the "top cover sentry in the second of a two vehicle patrol" at the time of the blast.

Lt Col Williams said: "What appears to have been an improvised explosive device detonated - disabling the vehicle and injuring another soldier."

Mr Blair was at an election campaign press conference when he was passed a note by his special adviser, Hillary Coffman, informing of the news of the soldier's death.

The soldier's death is certain to reignite the debate over Iraq in the final hours before Thursday's election. However, writing in today's Independent, Mr Blair takes the extraordinary step of urging voters not to use the election as a referendum on himself.

"This election is not, whatever Charles Kennedy says, just about Iraq or even about me as PM although I accept both are important factors. It is about which party forms the Government and the future direction of the country."

He added: "It is a choice between competing parties and their different plans for the economy, health, education and the other important areas which will directly impact on you and your family."

The Prime Minister was forced onto the defensive last night by hostile questioning by the audience and Jonathan Dimbleby on ITV.

Mr Blair said: "I am not going to stand here and beg for my own character. People can make up their own minds whether they trust me or not."

Labour strategists are privately confident of victory with their internal polling suggesting that Labour still have a four-point lead over the Tories.

However, there is increasing anxiety Mr Blair's majority could be cut in the marginal seats, where a swing of a few hundred votes could tip the balance.

Mr Blair and Gordon Brown returned to the campaign trail together again yesterday emphasising the economy.

Greg Dyke, a former Labour supporter who resigned as director general of the BBC over the row about the 'sexed up' dossiers, appeared on a Liberal Democrat platform, to urge for a mass vote against Mr Blair.

- INDEPENDENT