CONSERVATIVES in Blackburn have circulated an election leaflet apparently blaming the Labour government for “atrocities” in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The flier, titled “Labour shows its true colours”, bears the name of the agent for Tory candidate Michael Law-Riding and was delivered folded inside an official party newsletter.

It also accuses Israel of “killing and maiming thousands of innocent civilians”.

Mr Law-Riding, who is looking to overturn Jack Straw’s 8,000 majority in Blackburn, confirmed he had seen the leaflet.

He said killing somebody was always “an atrocity”, whatever the circumstances, insisting he always supported British troops.

But he later said his agent, Joan Bamber, had not approved the leaflet, accepting it was “inflammatory and sends out the wrong message.”

The leaflet, printed in English and Gujarati, said: “We have in front of us a whole saga of atrocities committed in Iraq, in Afghanistan, in Palestine, and if this was not enough, the Labour government allowed the Israeli government to create havoc in Lebanon and Gaza in Palestine..killing and maiming thousands of innocent civilians.

“The Labour government did nothing..for a number of days while the Israelis carried on their inhuman killing of innocent men, women and children.”

It does not mention Mr Law-Riding directly, urging a vote for the “Conservative candidate”, but is marked “promoted by J Bamber on behalf of Blackburn Conservatives”.

Tory leader David Cameron has repeatedly stressed the importance of Britain’s involvement in Afghanistan, and the party’s manifesto says it is “vital to our national security.”

Mr Law-Riding said: “It looks like Joan has not approved it, and I don’t know who has sent it out. We will have to find out.”

He suggested one of the Tories’ local election candidates might have been responsible.

Asked earlier whether the leaflet was in line with Conservative policy, he said: “We are trying to say the situation has been mismanaged by Labour.”

He added: “I think it’s just saying what people are thinking. It’s got to be argued against and argued for.”

The Conservative Party’s central office did not respond to requests for a comment.

Labour candidate Jack Straw, who said he saw the leaflet being delivered with the Conservative newsletter, accused the Tories of "a gross insult to British troops".

He said: "The only way of reading this is that they are accusing British troops of committing attrocities in Afghanistan and Iraq."

Meanwhile Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth said the Tory leader should step in and issue a statement about the flier.

Mr Ainsworth told the Lancashire Telegraph: “There is not much that surprises me in politics but this certainly surprises me.

“This leaflet is disgusting and there has to be a statement from David Cameron about it.”