Michael Howard has defended his stance on Iraq after reports it has provoked White House anger.

The Conservative leader has previously said he would not have voted for the Commons motion authorising the war if he had then know about the faulty intelligence on weapons of mass destruction.

And further comments that Tony Blair should consider his position as prime minister following the war are reported to have angered President Bush.

The Sun reported on Saturday that Howard had been barred from the White House and told he will never meet the US president.

The paper said the comments came in a phone call from Karl Rove, a senior White House aide, in February.

"You can forget about meeting the president full stop. Don't bother coming, you are not meeting him," Rove is reported to have said.

But following the report, Howard moved to defend is position.

"Britain shares with the United States many interests and many values, and the USA is our closest ally," the Tory chief said in a statement.

"A Conservative government would work very closely with President Bush or President Kerry, but my job as leader of the Opposition is to say things as I see them in the interests of our country and to hold our government to account.

"If some people in the White House, in their desire to protect Mr Blair, think I am too tough on Mr Blair or too critical of him, they are entitled to their opinion.

"But I shall continue to do my job as I see fit."