Shadow foreign secretary William Hague today called on the Government to undertake a thoroughgoing reassessment of its strategy in Iraq, to match the process currently under way in Washington.
Mr Hague said the Government should be working towards the withdrawal of British troops "sooner rather than later", but warned against an over-hasty pullout, which he said could destabilise the administration in Baghdad.
Ministers should come to the House of Commons to spell out candidly the Government's plans for Iraq at the same time as former US Secretary of State James Baker releases his review of American options, said Mr Hague.
Recent leaks have suggested that a bipartisan commission chaired by Mr Baker will advise US President George Bush to drop his "stay the course" policy in favour of preparations for an eventual exit from Iraq - possibly even involving co-operation with Washington's traditional foes Iran and Syria.
His report will be released following the November 7th Congressional elections at which pollsters predict a bruising for Mr Bush's Republicans, in part because of growing public unease over Iraq.
Following talks with senior military commanders yesterday, Mr Bush said he was ready to change tactics in the battle with insurgents, but insisted: "Our goal in Iraq is clear and unchanging: Our goal is victory."