Charles Kennedy has begun his party's election push, putting Iraq and the environment at the top of his agenda.

With parliament in recess, the Liberal Democrat leader is this week touring key constituencies across the UK.

Speaking during a visit to Somerset, he insisted his party and made the right decision in opposing the war in Iraq.

Kennedy said the decision had been the "biggest foreign policy mistake since Suez".

"The case for war was said to be invalid and the whole basis of the prosecution of the war was wrong," he said.

"The international community could have achieved much more."

Kennedy added that environmental issues would be a key concern for the Lib Dems during the forthcoming general election campaign.

"The whole environmental debate is now more heightened in people's consciousness," he said.

"People are thinking more locally and this mill is a good example.

"We are strongly in favour of renewable energy policies."