The prime minister could be impeached for misleading parliament over the basis for military action against Iraq, according to two leading lawyers.

In advice published today the lawyers claim  there is a case against Tony Blair being  guilty of a serious breach of constitutional principles.

Rabinder Singh, QC, and Professor Conor Gearty say the ancient procedure, under which MPs initiate criminal proceedings for actions that would otherwise go unprosecuted, can still be used to call ministers to account.

Meanwhile the Independent says that a private Labour poll suggests that three million voters have rejected Blair because of the concentration on Iraq rather than domestic issues.