Keele University was to host a debate with the constituency mp PAUL FARRELLY on salient issues namely the iraq genocide, and uk education issues.

here is farrelly's cancellation COMMUNIQUE:

"Nice to speak to you again and I am sorry to have to cancel Friday's meeting on security advice. As we discussed, in common with other MPs, my office has received threats over the war with Iraq. It is always difficult to assess whether anonymous callers, faxers or e-mailers are credible or not, but at this unpredictable time Special Branch and the police check everything out. Last week I also received a call from the local police alerting me to the fact that the meeting at Keele had been advertised on a direct action site on the internet (from that, indeed, I first learned that the venue was the Westminster Theatre!). I have no reason to believe that the group behind that advertisment advocates anything but lawful protest. Given the current circumstances and uncertainty, however, the advice I have received here is not to attend and I have informed the police accordingly. I will post you, as promised, the two articles I have written for The Sentinel, which explains my position on the war in Iraq. I will also keep you in touch with the campaign against differential top-up fees and the Higher Education White Paper. Best wishes and sorry again to have to cancel Yours sincerely Paul Farrelly MP for Newcastle-under-Lyme "

KEELE STOP THE WAR in RESPONSE to this pre-emptive strike on democracy pointed out that many members of the anti-war
movement receive threats, but they continue to stand by
their principles in public. The threats to the Iraqi people
and to democracy in this country deriving from this war are
a million times greater than the threat to a minor
backbencher of a discredited government.

We resolved that individual constituents in Newcastle -Under -Lyme should
write to Farrelly as they see fit.
That notification of Farrelly's refusal should be passed widely on peace lists around the country to find out how many other MPs are backing out of democractic debate with their constituents.

please post any such information here.


thanks