Sceptical MPs will believe Brown’s troop cuts when they happen

Fresh from his successful visit to the Middle East, Gordon Brown made his long-awaited Iraq statement in the House of Commons today. He held out the prospect of the bulk of British troops being pulled out of Iraq next year, promising a "fundamental change of mission" for the soldiers holed up in their Basra base as Britain makes the "transition to a long-term bilateral partnership with Iraq".

We have been here before, of course. The Prime Minister said last year that he hoped the number of British soldiers would be cut from 4,100 to 2,500 by the spring of 2008. In fact, they remain at 4,100 and sceptical Labour MPs say they will only believe withdrawals when they actually see them.

After the statement, one backbencher, noting the amount of "wriggle-room" in Brown's words, told the Mole: "It might all be five years ago, but Iraq is still a running sore in my constituency."

Government officials report that Brown appeared in high spirits during his 72-hour tour of Iraq and Israel. Perhaps, like his predecessor, he is getting a taste for glad-handing foreign dignitaries and Britons abroad.

This theory is supported by figures slipped out this afternoon – amid the welter of paper that pours out of Whitehall on the day Parliament rises for the summer recess – showing he has spent more than £900,000 on foreign travel since he became Prime Minister.

His disastrous visit to our boys in Basra during the Tory party conference in October – attracting hugely damaging accusations of opportunism – cost the taxpayer £197,600. A follow-up to dispense Christmas cheer in Afghanistan and Iraq cost £222,100.

A flying visit to the United States during his brief summer honeymoon cost £117,500, while four days in Uganda for the Commonwealth leaders’ summit carried a bill of £123,100.

He won't be benefiting from gifts picked up en route: a stone bowl from the President of Afghanistan and a watch, jewellery and suitcase handed over by the King of Bahrain are being "held by the department".

THE MOLE: IRAQ STATEMENT

FIRST POSTED JULY 22, 2008