IN his last two columns and in your recent separate article reporting his comments on the Chilcott Report, James Gray MP continues to retell the myth that he was firmly opposed to Tony Blair’s intention and decision to invade Iraq.

Like Mr B Coller, whose letter appeared in last week’s Gazette, I too had been writing to Mr Gray in the early part of 2003 to express to him my strong opposition to going to war in Iraq.

In my letters I questioned the legality of it all and the flimsy evidence that Saddam Hussein had a stockpile of weapons of mass destruction and the capability of delivery.

I predicted the carnage and, based upon the history of the region, that the long-term outcome would be bloody turmoil in that part of the world for years to come.

In none of his replies did he say or infer to me that he too opposed Blair’s proposals to take our country to war with Iraq or that he had any reservations about us doing so. Instead he set out at length why the Conservative Party and he broadly supported Blair’s position “that action must be taken to tackle the growing threat”. He also forwarded to me the lengthy arguments for war produced by the Blair government and additional detailed arguments for supporting Blair’s intentions written by Jack Straw and Michael Ancram.

I was left in no doubt whatsoever that Mr Gray was trying to persuade me to reconsider my opposing viewpoint for the one that he endorsed.

If Mr Gray and a few more Members of Parliament had had more fibre and resolve at that time and had stood up to be counted, and had firmly questioned and opposed in Parliament Mr Blair’s intent, it is possible that the subsequent horrors, and now insolvable consequences of that “illegal action”, may not now be part of our shameful history. Recently Mr Gray called for Mr Blair to be remorseful. Perhaps others too should be full of remorse for their own serious and costly errors of judgement and resolve at that time.

ALAN SCOTFORD, Marshfield Road, Chippenham