Iran negotiator: 'Iraq war was a mistake'

Senior diplomatic sources say Sir Nigel Sheinwald, who is due to take over as Britain's ambassador in Washington in the next few weeks, believed the attack on Iraq was a 'misjudgment'.

The disclosure is a major embarrassment for the Premier and Sir Nigel and marks a growing Foreign Office revolt over Mr Blair's conduct in Iraq as his departure looms.

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"We remained silent on this for four years because no one was allowed to challenge the Downing Street line," said one diplomat.

"Nigel and most other senior diplomats said the war was ill-conceived but we were all ignored. The situation is getting worse and Blair must bear the responsibility."

Foreign Office sources say Sir Nigel, 53, has effectively replaced Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett as the most powerful voice in foreign relations.

"Nigel is the most effective and authoritative diplomat Britain has produced for a long time," said one official. "Beckett was brought in to fill time until Gordon Brown becomes Prime Minister. No one takes any notice of her."

Sir Nigel became Mr Blair's foreign policy adviser in August 2003, just after Saddam fell. Previously he was Britain's envoy in Brussels where he worked hard to explain Mr Blair's support for President Bush over Iraq to sceptical EU leaders.

His predecessor as Mr Blair's personal foreign policy adviser was Sir David Manning, who was accused by the Foreign Office of being sucked into Mr Blair's circle of cronies who planned the war with little reference to the Cabinet or Foreign Office. Sir David was rewarded for his loyalty with the role of envoy in the US, where Sir Nigel will replace him.

Sir Nigel was in the Foreign Office when its lawyers said the Iraq War was illegal, only for Attorney General Lord Goldsmith to order a last minute U-turn amid intense pressure from No 10.

Sir Nigel also worked closely with former Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, who voiced doubts about the war and was later sacked after a series of disagreements with Mr Blair. Sir Nigel is renowned as a smooth but tough negotiator and his extensive Middle East contacts played a key role in securing the 15 sailors' freedom.

He had secret talks in November with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and has made sensitive visits to Egypt, Iraq and Israel to try to revive the Middle East peace plan and to counter criticism of Britain's presence in Iraq.

His opposition to the Iraq War could cause difficulties when he starts as Britain's envoy to the White House. But his views could prove a major asset when a new President is elected next year and America starts to withdraw its troops.

Nor will his record on Iraq be a bar to good relations with Mr Brown if he succeeds Mr Blair. The Chancellor, who is said to 'greatly respect' Sir Nigel, plans to give Britain's foreign policy a more peaceful emphasis.

A Downing Street spokesman said: "Sir Nigel was our representative in Brussels and was not involved in any way in giving advice in the run-up to the Iraq War."

He declined to comment on Sir Nigel's view of the war.