After 18 awful years of Toryism, the euphoria and optimism in Labour's victory of May 1, 1997 was palpable.

New Labour, new leader, new era and, above all, new hope. But this government, promising so much, has proved hugely disappointing.

Now, nearly six years on, Britain has faced a Parliamentary "debate" over war.

Not a war based on high-flown principle but a war dragging this proud nation ignominiously along on the shirt-tail of a right-wing Texan cowboy hell-bent on claiming Iraq's oil fields.

War costs dear. It costs in pain, misery and suffering and it costs taxpayers' money aplenty that could and should be spent in doing good, not on death and destruction.

Despite tasking UN inspectors to complete a crucial task, the trigger-happy Texan blunders blindly into ultimatums like a prelude to a shoot-out at the OK Corral and, in so doing, destroys the credibility of the United Nations, perhaps forever.

And Dubya's favourite British buddy has trapped the UK into a corner with no escape.

Despite so many positive achievements, the list of Labour's lousy decisions in government is long. Taking Britain into war with Iraq, against the will of the British people, is the pits.

We entrusted Tony with our hopes and ambitions for a better future. Now a Labour prime minister has callously betrayed the trust and confidence of Britain.

Never, ever, can Labour be trusted again under Tony Blair's leadership.

-Keith W D Jago, Uplands Road, Brighton