Mixed media: Lies and defection

THE PRO-BLAIR CAMP From New York: In deciding to throw in Britain's lot with President Bush on the Iraq war, Blair not only defied the overwhelming anti-war sentiment of his own party, but public opinion in Britain generally ... Blair took a principled position to depose Saddam and keep Britain tightly aligned with America. He did so, among other reasons, because he believed that the advance of freedom and the defeat of fascism - whether Islamo-fascism or Nazi fascism - were quintessential and indispensable "liberal" foreign policy goals. - Thomas L. Friedman in the New York Times

THE PUNTER: There is still optimism for the future with Labour. The thought of the Conservatives raping this country of its services fills me with fear. [As for] Iraq - the world is a better and safer place now, WMD or no WMD. The tyrant tested chemical weapons on his own people. Tony Blair cares more about this country than power - voter Paul on the msn.co.uk website

FROM SCOTLAND: On the face of, it Brian Sedgemore's defection was spectacularly mistimed. The former Labour MP jumped ship for the Liberal Democrats just as Labour's lead stretched into double figures in the NOP/Independent poll. It is too late for this issue to do significant damage to Tony Blair. The trust issue has been a factor since the beginning of the campaign, and most people have already made up their minds on whether it affects their willingness to vote Labour. - Iain MacWhirter in The Herald, Glasgow

A LORD'S VIEW: I don't for a moment doubt the integrity of the Prime Minister. Unlike many of his critics, I have had the satisfaction of knowing him for a considerable time, and I find it utterly impossible to accept that he behaved other than with absolute honesty. I am convinced that he did what he believed was right, although I wish it had been possible to go to the UN for the second occasion and gain its support. That was my view then, and it remains my view today. - Lord Attenborough writing in the Guardian

TROUBLE WITH BLAIR THE LEFTIE TABLOID COLUMNIST: We hear about the latest allegations of lies - Blair was reportedly told by Attorney-General Lord Goldsmith that his attack on Iraq was likely to be declared illegal - and we don't even blink, because we expect to be lied to by Tony Blair and crew. - Tony Parsons writing in The Daily Mirror

THE CONSERVATIVE NEWSPAPER: The Prime Minister's allies yesterday dismissed Mr Sedgemore as a maverick who never signed up to the New Labour project. That much is true, but still his splenetic resignation shows how perilous Mr Blair's position will become after the election, assuming Labour is returned. Mr Sedgemore may well be exaggerating when he claims that 150 Labour MPs "loathe" their leader. But should the Labour majority narrow, leaving the parliamentary party smaller and more left-wing, Mr Blair will struggle to maintain his authority. - The Daily Telegraph, London

THE ONLINE COLUMNIST: A Prime Minister who makes a habit of playing fast and loose with language has been caught at it again. He cannot be trusted to tell the truth ... The trouble with political lying, as Peter Oborne observes in a book out this week [The Rise of Political Lying], is that the only things politicians have going for them is trustworthiness. Their messages must keep some tenuous link to veracity and reality. Verbal gymnastics and spin cannot snap that link. When a politician is caught red-handed with a tall story it stains him for ever. He is a liar and is assumed to be a recidivist one. - Simon Jenkins for www.timesonline.co.uk

AN ARAB VIEW: Tony Blair has to apologise for the mistake that he made in invading Iraq and killing thousands for a threat that never existed. He should call an inquiry that could trace out the pro-Israeli zombies in his Cabinet, the British Parliament and the intelligence services who misled the world just for the lies of a person who was an habitual liar. - Sal Azam from the US on www.aljazeera.com