For the first time I felt had to write in concerning Jack Straw's visit to Rochdale and the spin that went along with it.

Jack Straw visited Castlemere Community Centre. As a life long Labour supporter I am in absolute shock at the red carpet that the Castlemere Community Centre rolled out to Straw.

Straw was the Foreign Minister who presided on the fateful decision to send our troops into the illegal war in Iraq.

This decision led to the slaughter of over two million Muslims – as well the deaths of dozens of our troops. I was led to believe that local Labour were against the invasion. The visit of Jack Straw sends a clear message that this is simply not the case.

I will never vote Labour again and it appears that many of my peers will never do so again. The repercussions of this illegal invasion are still going on and I am absolutely disgusted to see our so called leaders from the Muslim community and members of the Labour Party apparently condoning his actions.

This is a slap in the face for everyone in Rochdale and it will not be forgotten. Not a week goes by when we don’t hear of further British casualties or indeed more innocent people dying.

Don’t these people care about humanity? The Labour Party locally have made a huge mistake – one that may not cost lives but one that will forever link them to the disgraceful situation in Iraq.

Malik Imtiaz Ali, Rochdale Association of Muslims