20 March, 2003

Very sadly by the time you read this the first bomb may have been dropped on Iraq. However the debate on war on Tuesday showed the House of Commons in a sombre and deeply thoughtful mood. A Labour rebel MP pointed out that of all issues this should have been subject to a free vote. Despite immense pressure from party whips heartfelt speeches came from MPs on both sides of the House on both sides of the argument. So on this most important of issues the whips did not have it all their own way and most MPs voted according to their consciences. John Denham’s resignation speech was moving and expressed the anguish that led up to his decision. Most memorable was Robin Cook’s personal statement on Monday evening.

I feel that with the early deployment of troops we have been manoeuvred into a position of no return. 
Robin Cook said 

"history will be astonished at the diplomatic miscalculations that led so quickly to the disintegration of that powerful coalition" against terrorism.

I met Frank Dobson in the corridors after Robin Cook’s speech. He had been noticeable supporting Robin Cook during his speech and he told me how mystified he was about how we had got into this position of no return.

I was among the forty or fifty MPs who leapt to their feet between speeches from just after 12.30 to 9.15 in the evening and yet were not called to speak. I doubt if anything I planned to say would have influenced anybody but I did want to stress the horrors of war, that it must always be absolutely the last resort and that we are not yet in that position.

I wished to point out that the Government’s use of spin over so many issues is the reason for so many people’s loss of trust in our leaders.

Do we accept the Government’s lawyers’ interpretation of international law? Other MPs pointed out the alternatives of removing sanctions against Iraq, putting in UN human rights inspectors and continuing the peaceful disarmament through the UN that could have had results in the longer term.

Now we are to go to war we must hope and pray for a rapid completion, for safety for our troops and for the minimum of civilian casualties. Our opposition is to the people who have taken us into war rather than to our troops who will always have the nation’s full support in carrying out their orders. They now have the backing of Parliament.

I agree with Robin Cook who said,

"It is entirely legitimate to support our troops while seeking an alternative to the conflict that will put our troops at risk."

R.T.