Tony Blair is to announce on Wednesday that Britain will cut the number of UK troops stationed in Iraq by about 1,600 – the first time the UK’s military presence in the country has been reduced since the 2003 invasion.

The Financial Times has learnt that Mr Blair will tell MPs that the current UK contingent in Iraq – numbering 7,100 troops – is to come down to 5,500. The reduction in troop numbers will pave the way for Iraqi forces to begin taking control of the city of Basra.