A senior bishop will today launch a bitter attack on Tony Blair.

Delivering the Longford Lecture, the Right Reverend Dr John Sentamu, Bishop of Birmingham, will compare coalition forces in Iraq to criminals and hooligans.

"The recent conflict in Iraq saw a situation where the US and UK governments flouted the will of the UN security council and invaded Iraq," he will say.

"Upon achieving a military victory, they then went back to the UN Security Council and secured a resolution which gave them power over the spoils of a war which they conducted without approval.

"How would this global action work locally? It is like a group of men from across the street, having been refused permission by the courts to do so, coming to your home and kicking the door down.

"Once they have found your credit cards they then go to court where they get approval to spend your money for an indefinite period while they promise to look after your best interests."