Lib Dems draw line in the sand

Edward Davey joins fellow MPs in stand against Iraq

27.10.04

Kingston and Surbiton's Liberal Democrat MP, Edward Davey, is one of a group of MPs who have told the Government they need to come clean on their decision to deploy British troops into American-Controlled areas of Iraq.

All Liberal Democrat MPs have put their name to a motion in the House of Commons highlighting the Lib Dems' continued stand against the War and demanding that if British Troops are to be sent in to American-controlled areas, the decision must be made by the entire Parliament - not just Tony Blair.

Commenting, Edward Davey said:

"The decision to go to war was made by a small group of people at the top of the Labour party. It's clear that it was a decision made on incomplete information and with no plan for peace. Liberal Democrats said that then, and we have been proven right every step of the way.

"This is a huge change of pace and direction for our involvement in Iraq. This decision to put our troops into an American-controlled area when they are already working at full stretch keeping the south of the country calm cannot be made behind closed doors.

"The issues surrounding this Government and the Iraq War will not go away. I have had letters streaming in about this since the war began, and the outrage has increased tenfold following the recent troop redeployment.

"It is only right that the decision is made as openly and as honestly as possible. The only way for that to happen is for the Prime Minister to justify to all MPs and therefore all their constituents why he is going to consent to this American request."

The following motion was tabled Monday night in the names of all 55 Liberal Democrat MPs

BRITISH TROOPS IN IRAQ

That this House recalls its decision of 18th March 2003, opposed by the Liberal Democrats and others of all parties, to support "the decision of Her Majesty's Government that the United Kingdom should use all means necessary to ensure the disarmament of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction"; notes the recent decision of Her Majesty's Government to deploy British troops in Central Iraq to relieve United States forces for other operations; notes that the request for this deployment has not come from United Kingdom commanders in Iraq in the British sector of responsibility but from the United States and for operational reasons in the United States sector of responsibility; commends and supports the excellent work of British forces in Iraq, in difficult and dangerous conditions; recognises that British troops are currently heavily engaged and that the security situation in Multi-National Division (South East) may deteriorate as the date for elections nears; believes that all British forces should remain under British command in Multi-National Division (South East) and none should be deployed as requested by the United States; believes that the House should have the opportunity to express its view on a deployment which represents a significant change of strategy and policy through a vote; reiterates its commitment to the establishment of full democracy in Iraq as soon as possible and thereafter the phased withdrawal of British troops; and believes that greater United Nations involvement in political and economic reconstruction and in bringing greater security and stability to Iraq is essential.