IN view of the crisis involving British hostage Ken Bigley, it was unwise of Commons Leader Peter Hain to describe Iraq as a "fringe issue" as far as the Labour Party Conference was concerned.

And, although he later backtracked after a Downing Street admission that it was a "slip of the tongue", there is clearly substance to what he said.

The Government does, of course, care deeply about the fate of Mr Bigley, as we all do. We have great sympathy for Tony Blair who is in an impossible and unenviable position.

But ministers are also known to have a wider view that Iraq is a marginal issue as far as planning for the next General Election goes.

According to feedback on the doorsteps of Britain, anti-social behaviour is at the top of the "issues" list, which will form the battle-ground for votes, along with health and education.

Iraq is a long way away and it is domestic matters that will count most.

But the Government would be unwise to overlook the fact that the issue of trust is vital to its chances of a third term, and what Iraq has done is erode trust.

The Government is no longer fully trusted because of the misinformation which led to the war, and because it took far too long to see the dangers of the spin culture.

Iraq may be a fringe issue in electoral terms. But trust is most certainly not, and it impacts on all of the domestic issues which are high on the election agenda.

And while the Prime Minister may not be for wobbling, he must certainly be for listening to the doubts being expressed.