Lib Dems call for Iraq protest vote (in the UK)

5th May 2004

oters should use next month's European elections to protest against the war in Iraq, the Liberal Democrats have said.

Party leader Charles Kennedy said the June 10 poll gave voters the ideal opportunity to tell Prime Minister Tony Blair that his actions had left Britain increasingly isolated in the world.

Launching the Liberal Democrats' campaign, Mr Kennedy said the Prime Minister had chosen to distance Britain from both the United Nations and the European Union. "To govern is to choose," he said.

"That political choice having been made on his (Mr Blair's) part, the European elections are the most appropriate forum in which to cast judgment over the wisdom of this Government.

"June 10 is a telling opportunity to send Tony Blair an unambiguous message. 'These days Prime Minister, over Britain's role in a sane world order, you no longer speak in our name. You appear increasingly isolated, Britain appears increasingly isolated. We are voting for something better'."

http://www.femail.co.uk/pages/standard/article.html?in_article_id=212587&in_page_id=2

This is going to be an election to watch and see how strong Blair's support really is.

which is something that many of us who opposed this war support.

Withdrawal of the troops not will only bring Iraq even closer to civil war. Iraq needs help, and it needs a big change in approach from the people supposed to be helping. The best way to acheive this IMHO is to hand over power to the UN. There will still be problems but it does seem to me to be the least worst option on offer. Iraq needs international help, just not the sort of "help" Blair and Bush are offering.

This is the very reason why I'm not involved with the Stop the War coalition anymore. They are protesting for an immediate withdrawal of all foreign troops and I think that would unfortunately do more harm than good.