The sense of exasperation and frustration was palpable in the House of Commons last Friday after the vote on Clare Short's Private Member's Bill when only 93 Members turned up to support her Bill. 

Unbelievably, the Prime Minister has total power to declare war and/or commit British forces to military operations and Parliament has no formal role in approving such deployments although the Government does undertake to keep Parliament informed. 
The Bill sought to establish a requirement for the Government to obtain the approval of both Houses of Parliament before deployment of troops or declaration of war. 

For any Private Member's Bill to succeed, at least 100 Members have to vote in favour. As there were only 91 plus two tellers this vital Bill fell. Only one Tory Member stood up to say he had supported the war in Iraq on the wrong information and now knew he should have voted the other way. He agreed with the majority of speakers that if the Government was forced to obtain parliamentary approval, with exceptions in the case of emergency, there would have to be a closer examination of the facts than took place in 2003. Where were members of the main opposition party? 

Only five Tory Members supported the Bill with 49 Labour (rebels), 32 Lib Dems and seven Members of the smaller parties including both Independents. 

Does everyone else approve of this virtual dictatorship?

One of my disillusioned Tory friends told me that at the Identity Cards vote which was carried by the Government with a majority of only 25, 
40 Conservative members did not turn up to vote!

I enjoyed the Stourport Choral and Operatic Society Concert in memory of Grace Evans, their late Vice President. We heard lovely music of Vivaldi, Mendelssohn, Handel, Schubert and Rutter. All the soloists and choir members were "home-grown" demonstrating the amazing talent that we have locally.

On Sunday, the Trafalgar Day Service at All Saints Church, Wribbenhall, organised by Councillor Max Keen on behalf of Bewdley Town Council, was a memorable event. After suitable hymns and readings, we had demonstrations of loading and firing a ship's cannon and, with scouts, guides and brownies as ships, how the French fleet was split by the courageous, unconventional attack by Nelson at right angles to the French line. The genius of Nelson and the bravery and skill of every sailor under his command was realistically commemorated.