War leader: not in my name say voters

The majority of voters are still opposed to the prime minister's Baghdad adventure despite the fact that Britain could be at war by the end of this week.

Whilst the majority of voters appear hostile to a military offensive, it is women who are providing the biggest headache for Tony Blair.

The Labour leader has failed to persuade female voters of the case for conflict in Iraq, a new poll reveals today.

Just 16 per cent of women believe the government should commit troops to a US-led offensive against Saddam Hussein.

As the prime minister prepares to face females voters hostile to war in a TV programme tonight, the YouGov survey reveals that 66 per cent of women are opposed to military action against Saddam Hussein.

This compares to 49 per cent of men who say they are opposed to conflict in the Gulf.

The poll found that fewer than one in three women who supported Tony Blair at the last election back his stance in Iraq.

Just one in four of all voters said they would support a war which went ahead without United Nations' backing.

The survey - which comes at a critical time in the pre-war offensive - also reveals a growing sense of disenchantment with the government.

Sixty-five per cent of all voters surveyed said they did not trust ministers to tell the truth and do the right thing.

The poll was conducted for a special edition of Tonight with Trevor MacDonald to be broadcast this evening.