John Reid, the UK defence secretary, on Monday announced that the number of British troops deployed in Iraq would be reduced by 10 per cent to just over 7,000 from May this year. At its high point in October 2003 Britain had some 10,000 troops serving in Iraq.

In his statement to the Commons Mr Reid was at pains to stress that the cut in personnel should not be seen as part of an exit strategy but rather a response to an increase in Iraqi security forces and improvements in the way the UK forces were configured.