Outburst on Bush and Blair threatens foreign policy rift

Tony Blair should cut the "umbilical cord" tying him to George Bush's administration, pull British troops out of Iraq and open negotiations with radical Muslims, Michael Ancram, a former Tory spokesman on foreign affairs, has said.

His remarks at a fringe meeting shattered the unity of the Conservative front bench. David Cameron and the shadow Foreign Secretary, William Hague, have been trying to convince voters that a Conservative government would be pro-American but would not be as "slavish" as Tony Blair, and would be tough in dealing with radical Muslims.

Delivering areport on foreign policy to the Tory conference yesterday, Mr Hague said the West must never "besmirch" the values it upholds by abusing prisoners or abandoning the rule of law, which observers saw as a sideswipe at the US prison camp in Guantanamo Bay.

"We need to know how we can manage an alliance with the United States that is not seen as one-sided, that is solid but never slavish," Mr Hague added. But Mr Ancram, who was shadow foreign secretary in 2001-05, accused the Prime Minister and US President of being stuck in a "time warp" with a foreign policy that was "actively bad" because of their obsession with the 11 September terrorist attacks. He also accused them of making "an enormous error" by refusing to press Israel for a ceasefire during the war in Lebanon.

"The war simultaneously strengthened Hizbollah and made new enemies of those whose co-operation will be needed in any future peace process," he said. Mr Ancram claimed that the "moralistic intransigence" of the two leaders had created a "vacuum" in Iraq that was attracting terrorists. He added that Mr Bush and Mr Blair should stop threatening to use force against Iran, and should work out clearly what they wanted to achieve in Afghanistan.

"We have achieved much for the people of Iraq over the past three years, but not stability nor security," he said. "The chance of doing so - or anything else positive - is now remote. It is time for us, while we still can with dignity and honour, to come home."

"It is naive to seek to demonise an Iran which is dealing commercially with China and Russia," he added. "This is a situation for dialogue rather than threats.

"We urgently need a new foreign policy. Get out of Iraq. Talk to Iran. Chase hearts and minds as well as insurgents in Afghanistan. And start 'dancing with wolves'. Above all, cut the umbilical cord with George Bush, and have a British foreign policy again."