Jenny Tonge, MP for Richmond Park, is supporting a motion tabled in the House of Commons on Monday, October 25th 2004, which strongly criticises the actions of the Government in sending British troops to support the United States in central Iraq without the permission of the House.

The motion, supported by all 55 Liberal Democrat MPs, commends and supports the excellent work of British forces in Iraq in difficult and dangerous conditions.

It questions the decision to send British troops to Central Iraq and states that the House of Commons should have been allowed to express its view on such a "significant change of strategy and policy."

Dr Tonge said: "I am extremely worried by this development, and question its timing too, so close to the US Presidential elections. It demonstrates the importance of keeping up the pressure on Tony Blair over his decision to go to war in Iraq."

The text of Motion reads:
That this House recalls its decision of 18th March 2003, opposed by the Liberal Democrats and others of all parties, to support "the decision of Her Majesty's Government that the United Kingdom should use all means necessary to ensure the disarmament of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction"; notes the recent decision of Her Majesty's Government to deploy British troops in Central Iraq to relieve United States forces for other operations; notes that the request for this deployment has not come from United Kingdom commanders in Iraq in the British sector of responsibility but from the United States and for operational reasons in the United States sector of responsibility; commends and supports the excellent work of British forces in Iraq, in difficult and dangerous conditions; recognises that British troops are currently heavily engaged and that the security situation in Multi-National Division (South East) may deteriorate as the date for elections nears; believes that all British forces should remain under British command in Multi-National Division (South East) and none should be deployed as requested by the United States; believes that the House should have the opportunity to express its view on a deployment which represents a significant change of strategy and policy through a vote; reiterates its commitment to the establishment of full democracy in Iraq as soon as possible and thereafter the phased withdrawal of British troops; and believes that greater United Nations involvement in political and economic reconstruction and in bringing greater security and stability to Iraq is essential.

Wednesday, October 27, 2004

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