I just hope that the undecided voters in the Labour marginals see this for what it is: the final nail in Tony Blair's coffin. It buries for once and for all his claims that the Attorney General's advice was clear and unambiguous.

This is clearly the biggest bombshell of the election. I am stunned. The public will be shocked that the British Prime Minister has been proved to be an out-and-out liar.

He has taken us into a war - in which thousands of civilians died and British troops lost their lives - based on a falsehood.

This is so monumental, that it beggars belief the Prime Minister can stay. Even at this late stage Labour should change leader before 5 May.

It certainly means that after 5 May - should Labour win - his days are numbered.

The Muslim community is going to be shocked, because a lot of them have bent over backwards to give him the benefit of the doubt, to see with absolute clarity that Tony Blair only believes what he wants to believe and the strength of his love affair with George Bush.

The Anglo-American alliance, for all its merits, was not meant to sustain illegality and serious criminality.

This disclosure does not make me joyful because it is so appalling. It makes it clear to me that by leaving Labour I have done the right thing.

Lots of my former Labour colleagues must know by staying on in the party and backing the war they have done the wrong thing. I appeal to Labour MPs to examine their consciences.

Mr. Sedgemore, the former Labour MP for Hackney South and Shoreditch, defected to the Liberal Democrats this week.

© 2005 Guardian Unlimited

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