Baghdad and Basra are a long way from Blackpool. It is hard, nonetheless, not to see some connection between the timing of Gordon Brown’s visit to Iraq yesterday and the Conservative Party conference. The Prime Minister was always likely to visit the troops before the House of Commons returned to work, but in the present frantic election atmosphere, this trip was bound to send political signals. That message is that the military commitment is being scaled back and may soon be finalised.

Senior figures in the Army will not object to that, even if they would rather that those under their command did not become part of a political battleground. The effort to train a local replacement force of Iraqis to replace them has made striking progress in the course of this year, and fewer UK soldiers are required to perform an “overwatch” function than when they were patrolling the streets of Basra city. Commanders are also aware that reinforcements will probably be required in Afghanistan to take on the Tale-ban and their al-Qaeda affiliates soon. A timeta-ble that sees an estimated 1,000 men and women return from Iraq before Christmas, with another substantial withdrawal by Easter, will suit all concerned. The Army has performed admirably in extremely challenging circumstances and the troops are entitled to some respite after their val-our.

It would be deeply unwise, however, to pledge to move any faster. Iraq has turned significantly for the better in recent months and the once doubted “surge” has been vindicated. But these are early days for an army that still has to demonstrate its capacity in the sort of policing activities that will be demanded in and around Basra. Iran and its Shia sympathisers will inevitably make trouble if the opportunity is presented to them. And it is absolutely vital that every aspect of British policy is coordinated with Washington. The political temptation to engage in grandstanding should be resisted. This was never “Blair’s war” but “Britain’s war”, and it is Mr Brown’s duty to close it thoughtfully and not self-indulgently.

It was difficult not to conclude that Mr Brown was indeed dog-whistling again yesterday. His suggestion that politics were far from his thoughts was implausible, and he has been too willing to allow space between himself and Blair-ite policy, and between the UK and US, which is doing the heavy lifting in Iraq. A force of some size will be required in southern Iraq throughout all of 2008, perhaps longer. Basra, while not the citadel of anarchy that some have suggested, still needs assistance with keeping the peace and the physical reconstruction needed to fulfil its immense economic potential. Many of those “coming home for Christmas” may well be heading out again to Afghanistan, a frontline challenge which is likely to be highlighted by David Cam-eron in his speech in Blackpool today.

If there is an early poll then the chances are that (bar Europe) international affairs will not be headline-grabbing issues. Afghanistan and Iraq will barely be mentioned, let alone emerging troublespots such as how to counter Tehran’s ambitions to control nuclear weapons or adapt to a reassertive Russia. It is understandable that most voters would prefer not to dwell too much on these awkward questions, and the incentive for politicians not to disturb them is sizeable. Yet whoever wins will have to see through a deliberate and dignified departure from Iraq, not a scramble for the exit.