Brown's 'easy ride' on Iraq issue

Mr Brown spoke for around an hour to Labour party members answering questions submitted in writing by guests.

He tackled questions on child poverty, climate change, schooling and the House of Lords but it was only when the floor was opened up to live Q&A that the issue of Iraq arose.

Leader of Sheffield council Jan Wilson said Mr Brown had had an "easy ride" during the previous 45 minutes of debate and asked how he would tackle the "big perception issue" of Britain's involvement in Iraq.

Mr Brown replied: "Let us be honest. Iraq has been one of the most divisive issues in British politics. We can go back over the issue of the last few years but the issue now is what is the next stage in Iraq and what can we do. Just remember we are in four provinces in Iraq. We have moved out of three from an army direct role into an over watch role. We will move out of the fourth quite soon."

He said the future for Iraq lay in establishing security, political reconciliation and giving people a stake in the future of their country.

He added: "Yes we can continue to have a debate about what happened but the most important thing for me is how we move on to build political reconciliation and ensure people have a stake in the future of Iraq."

He was speaking at a leadership and deputy leadership hustings meeting in Sheffield.

Mr Brown addressed around 200 Labour Party members at Sheffield United's home ground on Bramall Lane.

Education Secretary Alan Johnson, Justice Minister Harriet Harman, Development Secretary Hilary Benn, party chairwoman Hazel Blears, Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain and backbencher Jon Cruddas are contesting for the deputy leadership role. The six then spent an hour answering more questions on policy issues and how they foresaw their role should they be elected to the position.