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Blair suffers big parliament revolt

Epimenedes | 26.02.2003 20:13

LONDON (Reuters) - Nearly 200 members of parliament have defied Prime Minister Tony Blair's hawkish Iraq stance, saying that the case for war has not been proven


LONDON (Reuters) - Nearly 200 members of parliament have defied Prime Minister Tony Blair's hawkish Iraq stance, saying that the case for war has not been proven.


The government put forward a motion asking parliament for backing for U.N. efforts to disarm Iraq. It did not mention the possibility of war which could follow within weeks.


But 199 MPs backed an amendment to that motion which stated the case for war is as yet unproven. Embarrassingly for Blair, many of them came from the Labour Party, making it almost certainly the biggest internal rebellion he has faced in nearly six years in power.


Blair's huge parliamentary majority and the support of most Conservatives ensured he won the vote by 393 to 199.


But the scale of the revolt will add to the impression of a leader standing dangerously out on a limb.

Epimenedes
- Homepage: http://uk.news.yahoo.com/030226/80/du66k.html

Comments

Hide the following 4 comments

out of touch

26.02.2003 20:44

the result shows that the goverment and the lickspittles in the labour party who blindly back the holy one's moral crusade are far out of touch with the public .
welldone to the 199 who voted against bliar but will they do the same next time or fall in line like all little self intrested politicians .
Its time to dump parliament and start our own
hey kids rock@roll

alvin stardust
mail e-mail: platforms@seventiesrocks


The Great Iraq Debate - NOT!

26.02.2003 22:20


Arguments raged over the purely hypothetical terrorist threat from WMD’s that have neither been found or proven to exist in Iraq, excepting the chemical and biological arsenal supplied by us, which has largely been destroyed

Michael Portillo outlined the link between Saddam and Osama... “they are co-belligerents” he said, but claimed Iraq has greater links to Palestinian terrorists because Hussein is the hero of suicide bombers. He called for a new organisation to replace NATO dealing specifically with ‘counter-terror’ on a global scale with the US, UK and Australia at the forefront. Portillo, who fancies himself as the next PM wants to send an “unambiguous message of hostility” to terrorists.

Gerald Kaufman called the illegal US administration distasteful and labelled it “a bad World citizen” – yet the UN Ambassador, Jeremy Greenstock’s excuse for bombing Iraq is “it’s attitude” - if it’s about bad attitudes then the USA is the most delinquent Nation, which is why Kaufman wants the UN to uphold the New World Order rather than America, and believes Hussein is a threat to that “Order.”

UN backing for military might would make it easier, said Blair, to make demands in the future and deal with other threats posed to the Empire which need “deterred” like Iran, Syria and North Korea. Kaufman’s incontrovertible evidence as a case for war is; - only coercion from Britain made the US take the UN route to war, otherwise it would have gone-it-alone and isolationalism in the White House would be a danger, so we must remain allied to America for that convoluted reason.

George Galloway drew the parallel to1914 – when neither side wanted to fight, but had to go through with it, simply because they’d turned up, and it destroyed European civilization. Tony Blair’s second resolution (for legal cover) was termed, “a push for peace...” but citing George Orwell’s 1984, Galloway declared, the consensus from the front benches sounded more like a push for war, the reverberations of which would disfigure life around the World for our entire lifetime.

Galloway believes we could reshape World events by defying the US, who would have difficulty proceeding further without UK support. He says it’s all about Bush, this “born-again, right-wing, Bible-belt Republican” and agreed with Kaufman’s criticisms of America, reminding the House how the USA has walked away from International Treaties, he also called Texas “the execution chamber of the World.” Galloway said it’s a slap in the face for Hans Blix if he asks for more time and it’s denied.

Douglas Hogg is troubled by the morality of war and thinks all other options should be closed first, because self-defence is a weak argument since the Iraqi regime is not an imminent threat to our security. However, to be anti- war was interpreted as a comfort to Hussein, succour to the enemy and appeasement, by the likes of Julian Lewis, some upstart Tory full of his own self-importance, trying to sound prominent; revisiting WWII and that old chestnut, Hitler, he said, sometimes you need to achieve “peace by conflict” a totally Orwellian contradiction in terms.

The only truism uttered in the Mother of all Parliaments was, “if we put the same energy into peace, as we put into war, this could be the first century, without conflict.”

Og


the list

26.02.2003 22:35

The complete list of Labour MP's whom voted against the whips today.

Diane Abbott (Hackney North & Stoke Newington)
Graham Allen (Nottingham North),
John Austin (Erith & Thamesmead),
Tony Banks (West Ham),
Harry Barnes (Derbyshire North East)
John Battle (Leeds West),
Anne Begg (Aberdeen South)
Andrew Bennett (Denton & Reddish)
Joe Benton (Bootle),
Roger Berry (Kingswood),
Harold Best (Leeds North West)
Richard Burden (Birmingham Northfield),
Ronnie Campbell (Blyth Valley),
Martin Caton (Gower),
Colin Challen (Morley & Rothwell),
David Chaytor (Bury North),
Michael Clapham (Barnsley West & Penistone),
Helen Clark (Peterborough),
Tom Clarke (Coatbridge & Chryston),
Tony Clarke (Northampton South)
Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead),
Iain Coleman (Hammersmith & Fulham),
Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North).
Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central),
Tom Cox (Tooting),
Ann Cryer (Keighley),
John Cryer (Hornchurch),
Jim Cunningham (Coventry South),
Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow),
Valerie Davey (Bristol West),
Denzil Davies (Llanelli)
Terry Davis (Birmingham Hodge Hill)
Hilton Dawson (Lancaster & Wyre),
Jim Dobbin (Heywood & Middleton),
Terry Davis (Birmingham Hodge Hill)
Frank Dobson (Holborn & St Pancras)
Brian Donohoe (Cunninghame South),
Frank Doran (Aberdeen Central),
David Drew (Stroud),
Huw Edwards (Monmouth),
Jeff Ennis (Barnsley East & Mexborough)
Paul Farrelly (Newcastle-under-Lyme),
Mark Fisher (Stoke-on-Trent Central),
Paul Flynn (Newport West),
Hywel Francis (Aberavon),
George Galloway (Glasgow Kelvin),
Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow),
Ian Gibson (Norwich North),
Roger Godsiff (Birmingham Sparkbrook & Small Heath)
Patrick Hall (Bedford)
David Hamilton (Midlothian)
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East)
Doug Henderson (Newcastle upon Tyne North),
David Hinchliffe (Wakefield)
Kate Hoey (Vauxhall)
Jimmy Hood (Clydesdale)
Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North),
Brian Iddon (Bolton South East)
Eric Illsley (Barnsley Central),
Glenda Jackson (Hampstead & Highgate),
Helen Jackson (Sheffield Hillsborough),
Jon Owen Jones (Cardiff Central),
Lynne Jones (Birmingham Selly Oak),
Martyn Jones (Clwyd South)
Peter Kilfoyle (Liverpool Walton),
Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North & Leith),
David Lepper (Brighton Pavilion),
Terry Lewis (Worsley),
Iain Luke (Dundee East),
John Lyons (Strathkelvin & Bearsden),
Christine McCafferty (Calder Valley),
John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington),
Ann McKechin (Glasgow Maryhill),
Kevin McNamara (Hull North),
Tony McWalter (Hemel Hempstead),
Khalid Mahmood (Birmingham Perry Barr),
Alice Mahon (Halifax),
David Marshall (Glasgow Shettleston),
Jim Marshall (Leicester South),
Robert Marshall-Andrews (Medway),
Chris Mole (Ipswich),
Julie Morgan (Cardiff North),
Tony McWalter (Hemel Hempstead),
Denis Murphy (Wansbeck),
Doug Naysmith (Bristol North West),
Diana Organ (Forest of Dean),
Albert Owen (Ynys Mon),
Linda Perham (Ilford North),
Peter Pike (Burnley),
Kerry Pollard (St Albans),
Gordon Prentice (Pendle),
Andy Reed (Loughborough),
Joan Ruddock (Lewisham Deptford),
Martin Salter (Reading West),
Malcolm Savidge (Aberdeen North),
Mohammad Sarwar (Glasgow Govan),
Philip Sawford (Kettering),
Brian Sedgemore (Hackney South & Shoreditch),
Debra Shipley (Stourbridge),
Dennis Skinner (Bolsover),
Alan Simpson (Nottingham South),
Marsha Singh (Bradford West),
Chris Smith (Islington South & Finsbury),
Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent),
George Stevenson (Stoke-on-Trent South),
Paul Stinchcombe (Wellingborough),
Gavin Strang (Edinburgh East & Musselburgh),
David Taylor (Leicestershire North West),
Jon Trickett (Hemsworth),
Paul Truswell (Pudsey),
Desmond Turner (Brighton Kemptown),
Bill Tynan (Hamilton South),
Rudi Vis (Finchley & Golders Green),
Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North),
Robert Wareing (Liverpool West Derby),
Brian White (Milton Keynes North East),
Alan Williams (Swansea West),
Betty Williams (Conwy),
Mike Wood (Batley & Spen),
Tony Worthington (Clydebank & Milngavie),
Tony Wright (Cannock Chase),
Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne & Sheppey),

eb


Listof MPs

26.02.2003 22:43

Labour MPs backing amendment that the case for war with Iraq is unproven (which suggests any not on here should be sent a letter / fax / email or two by concerned labour voters in their constituancies...):

Diane Abbott (Hackney North & Stoke Newington)
Graham Allen (Nottingham North),
John Austin (Erith & Thamesmead),
Tony Banks (West Ham),
Harry Barnes (Derbyshire North East)
John Battle (Leeds West),
Anne Begg (Aberdeen South)
Andrew Bennett (Denton & Reddish)
Joe Benton (Bootle),
Roger Berry (Kingswood),
Harold Best (Leeds North West)
Richard Burden (Birmingham Northfield),
Ronnie Campbell (Blyth Valley),
Martin Caton (Gower),
Colin Challen (Morley & Rothwell),
David Chaytor (Bury North),
Michael Clapham (Barnsley West & Penistone),
Helen Clark (Peterborough),
Tom Clarke (Coatbridge & Chryston),
Tony Clarke (Northampton South)
Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead),
Iain Coleman (Hammersmith & Fulham),
Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North).
Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central),
Tom Cox (Tooting),
Ann Cryer (Keighley),
John Cryer (Hornchurch),
Jim Cunningham (Coventry South),
Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow),
Valerie Davey (Bristol West),
Denzil Davies (Llanelli)
Terry Davis (Birmingham Hodge Hill)
Hilton Dawson (Lancaster & Wyre),
Jim Dobbin (Heywood & Middleton),
Terry Davis (Birmingham Hodge Hill)
Frank Dobson (Holborn & St Pancras)
Brian Donohoe (Cunninghame South),
Frank Doran (Aberdeen Central),
David Drew (Stroud),
Huw Edwards (Monmouth),
Jeff Ennis (Barnsley East & Mexborough)
Paul Farrelly (Newcastle-under-Lyme),
Mark Fisher (Stoke-on-Trent Central),
Paul Flynn (Newport West),
Hywel Francis (Aberavon),
George Galloway (Glasgow Kelvin),
Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow),
Ian Gibson (Norwich North),
Roger Godsiff (Birmingham Sparkbrook & Small Heath)
Patrick Hall (Bedford)
David Hamilton (Midlothian)
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East)
Doug Henderson (Newcastle upon Tyne North),
David Hinchliffe (Wakefield)
Kate Hoey (Vauxhall)
Jimmy Hood (Clydesdale)
Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North),
Brian Iddon (Bolton South East)
Eric Illsley (Barnsley Central),
Glenda Jackson (Hampstead & Highgate),
Helen Jackson (Sheffield Hillsborough),
Jon Owen Jones (Cardiff Central),
Lynne Jones (Birmingham Selly Oak),
Martyn Jones (Clwyd South)
Peter Kilfoyle (Liverpool Walton),
Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North & Leith),
David Lepper (Brighton Pavilion),
Terry Lewis (Worsley),
Iain Luke (Dundee East),
John Lyons (Strathkelvin & Bearsden),
Christine McCafferty (Calder Valley),
John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington),
Ann McKechin (Glasgow Maryhill),
Kevin McNamara (Hull North),
Tony McWalter (Hemel Hempstead),
Khalid Mahmood (Birmingham Perry Barr),
Alice Mahon (Halifax),
David Marshall (Glasgow Shettleston),
Jim Marshall (Leicester South),
Robert Marshall-Andrews (Medway),
Chris Mole (Ipswich),
Julie Morgan (Cardiff North),
Tony McWalter (Hemel Hempstead),
Denis Murphy (Wansbeck),
Doug Naysmith (Bristol North West),
Diana Organ (Forest of Dean),
Albert Owen (Ynys Mon),
Linda Perham (Ilford North),
Peter Pike (Burnley),
Kerry Pollard (St Albans),
Gordon Prentice (Pendle),
Andy Reed (Loughborough),
Joan Ruddock (Lewisham Deptford),
Martin Salter (Reading West),
Malcolm Savidge (Aberdeen North),
Mohammad Sarwar (Glasgow Govan),
Philip Sawford (Kettering),
Brian Sedgemore (Hackney South & Shoreditch),
Debra Shipley (Stourbridge),
Dennis Skinner (Bolsover),
Alan Simpson (Nottingham South),
Marsha Singh (Bradford West),
Chris Smith (Islington South & Finsbury),
Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent),
George Stevenson (Stoke-on-Trent South),
Paul Stinchcombe (Wellingborough),
Gavin Strang (Edinburgh East & Musselburgh),
David Taylor (Leicestershire North West),
Jon Trickett (Hemsworth),
Paul Truswell (Pudsey),
Desmond Turner (Brighton Kemptown),
Bill Tynan (Hamilton South),
Rudi Vis (Finchley & Golders Green),
Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North),
Robert Wareing (Liverpool West Derby),
Brian White (Milton Keynes North East),
Alan Williams (Swansea West),
Betty Williams (Conwy),
Mike Wood (Batley & Spen),
Tony Worthington (Clydebank & Milngavie),
Tony Wright (Cannock Chase),
Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne & Sheppey)

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