Good faith?

I am amazed Tony Blair has not resigned.

The Butler Report on the intelligence used to justify war with Iraq effectively shows the Prime Minister misled Parliament and misled the country.

Before the crucial vote on the war, Mr Blair gave MPs his "insider view" that the secret intelligence was compelling. He produced a dossier, saying weapons of mass destruction could be fired at British troops in Cyprus within 45 minutes. Blair told us there were absolutely no doubts - even though the dossier was less than convincing, as I wrote at the time.

Yet Butler now says that intelligence was "thin". That the assessments were presented "shorn of their caveats". That the 45 minute should not have gone in the dossier.

Lord Butler was the Head of the Civil Service. His report is as hard-hitting as any a mandarin has ever produced about a Prime Minister.

Indeed, the only excuse Butler provides for Blair is he "acted in good faith".

Good faith? It's the Prime Minister's job to be competent. To ask the critical questions of secret intelligence. Not to misuse intelligence to justify decisions already taken.

The Iraq war cost thousands of lives. It cost the British taxpayer billions of pounds. The war has undermined the fight against terrorism and done lasting damage to Britain's international reputation.

Good faith? The Prime Minister should be ashamed.