The Independent has two stories related to the war in Iraq - the issue that wasn't, but suddenly might be again. The first reopens the row over the legal advice given to the government over its decision to go to war, and explains how that has coincided with Michael Howard's increasing desperation and resulting personal attacks on Tony Blair.

The other story profiles the media attention generated by Reg Keys, the father of a British soldier killed in Iraq, who is standing against the prime minister in his own constituency.

"I believe Tony Blair has blood on his hands for those who died in Iraq, British soldiers and the people of Iraq," he says. "My son was betrayed. I countersigned his application because he was under 18, he went to war proudly because he believed what our country's leader told him. If he was killed by WMD, I wouldn't be here. But now we know, of course, that Blair lied," Mr Keys says.

The paper points out that of the record 155 candidates standing as independents at this election, many are using the war as their focal point.

Charles Kennedy, meanwhile, takes the opportunity to urge voters to "punish both parties" for their support for the war.

The prime minister himself, however, remains unshakeable on the subject, saying that his opponents are using Iraq as a campaign issue because they have "nothing serious to say about the issues facing our country for the future".


This week's Economist looks at some books which may or may not help make sense of the election, while if you're in too much of a hurry to read anything that weighty, then just check the excellent Blog Roundups.


What on earth was the BBC thinking?

Finally, hot on the heels of thoughts of the Tory leader's wife, which have created quite an online buzz, comes not the Tory leader himself.

(Actually, I just did a Google search for "Michael Howard" and "Blog" and this came up. Am still debating whether this guy might actually make a better candidate, and whether the real Michael Howard is actually Wally from "Dilbert"...)

Meanwhile, there's a "genuine proxy" Howard blog here...

And, among the best spoof election posters today....