NORTH-west MEP Sir Robert Atkins has attacked calls by the European Trade Union Confederation (EUTC) for industrial action in protest of the war on Iraq.

The EUTC called for immediate strikes by its affiliated trade union bodies including the TUC in Britain, but Conservative Sir Robert, one of 10 Euro-MPs who represent the region, said that work stoppages would only serve to "reinforce Saddam Hussein's evil regime".

Speaking from Brussels, he said: "War was never the first choice, but we are now at war. Our armed forces are putting their lives on the line, and should be in no doubt that the whole country is 100 per cent behind them."