THIS year's sixth formers will have their first chance of voting in the next general election. Chief reporter Sara Dixon spoke to students at Wanstead High to find out their views on the Iraq crisis and to see if the situation had changed their political allegiances.s=10THE BRITISH Government and our Prime Minister are in a precarious and unprecedented position.o

Going to war is always a difficult decision and will rarely gain the entire backing of press, Parliament and people.

But undertaking military action with one million people taking to the streets in protest, without the majority of the governing party backing it and cabinet members already showing signs of deep dissent puts Tony Blair in an historically, and potentially politically, isolated position.

Risking his position as Labour Party leader and Prime Minister, Tony Blair has declared that invading Iraq is just and right and will result in the removal of a tyrant and secure a safer world for all.

But with so many people fundamentally disagreeing with his hawkish stance he is taking a political gamble with a call to arms.

Mirroring the rest of the country, the doves outnumbered the hawks amongst 18 political students at Wanstead High School last week, with 12 anti-invasion, four pro-war and two undecided.

As British and American troops prepared for war and as Tony Blair and George W. Bush did not deviate from the course they set themselves on months ago, teenagers in Redbridge questioned the world leaders' motives.

For one youngster the irony of declaring that you could forcibly impose a democracy on another country, while ignoring the electorate in your own nation, was not lost.

Sam Chitticks, 17, said: "It's not very democratic. There are so many people in Britain who are against war and Tony Blair is completely ignoring them. It seems ironic that war is going ahead to bring democracy to Iraq when things don't seem to be so democratic here."

But for the hawks of the group, imposing democracy by force was a valid enough reason to drop bombs.

Jinal Shah said: "Bush and Blair have got to do what's best for the world. They are trying to uphold democracy."

And while many Middle Eastern states do have democratic elections, like the ones held in the UK, the 18-year-old politics student believes that as Saddam Hussein poses a threat to the free world, unlike countries like Saudia Arabia, Iraq is a credible target.

But as Tony Blair begins to lose the support of traditional Labour voters and his popularity in the polls begins to plummet, he has gained support from other quarters.

Neil Cockrill, who will be voting for the first time in the next elections, is a declared Conservative supporter who will be transferring his x in the box to Tony Blair owing to his pro-war position.

The 19-year-old said: "I wouldn't vote for the Labour Party but I'd vote for Tony Blair. I would vote Conservative but now I'd vote for Tony Blair."

But even this self-confessed hawk said that the ethical reasons for ousting Saddam Hussein that Bush and Blair were putting forward were based on hypocrisy.

"I think it's a family thing," said Mr Cockrill. "George Bush wants to finish what his daddy started, and it's for oil. There's definitely hypocrisy there. But I think Saddam Hussein is a dangerous tyrant and threat to the world."

But among the two who could not make up their minds, Bush presented more of a danger to the world

Melora Jezierska, 17, said: "Bush and Blair are putting themselves above the UN. I think Bush is a dangerous man because he is using public opinion after September 11 to justify going to war."

And for Burham Ali, war will only create greater discord and violence.

He said: "Many Muslims hate Saddam Hussein and if somebody was going to go and kill him they would be happy. But the terrorist groups are a separate issue.

"This war will not stop suicide bombers, more suicide bombers will be created, more hate will be created."