IT is easy to be cynical about the timing, in view of the fevered speculation over a General Election being called next week, but we welcome Gordon Brown's announcement that 1,000 British troops are to be withdrawn from Basra by the end of the year.

Whether the announcement was planned as a pre-election headline-grabber or not, the fact that some of our armed forces will be home by Christmas is a cause for celebration.

The Prime Minister, of course, would like to have gone much further. It is no secret that he has been working on plans based on a complete withdrawal, which would have sent the strongest signal yet that he has distanced himself from the Blair years. But he was persuaded that a gradual reduction in troop numbers was the best way forward and that has to be right.

Britain has an absolute responsibility to remain in Iraq until the job of rebuilding the country is complete - and the evidence is that there is still a long way to go.

But if enough progress has been made to move from a combat position to an "overwatch" role, and military leaders believe conditions will allow a progressive handover to the Iraqi army, then we support a phased withdrawal of British troops. It must be a considered, step-by-step approach, rather than a sudden rush to depart.

We look forward to welcoming those troops who will be returning home to their families in time for Christmas. And our thoughts are with those who must remain to continue the dangerous and hugely difficult task of establishing security in Iraq.