Withdrawal from Iraq should be new PM's first act
Last night I tabled an EDM in the House of Commons calling on the new Prime Minister to make the withdrawal of troops from Iraq his first priority.
The loss of life of Iraqis and British soldiers has caused so much heart-rending suffering. It would be a significant start to his period in office if the new Prime Minister set a timetable for withdrawal.
This would be a radical break from the Blair era and reflect the majority opinion of both the Party and the country. It would also demonstrate that he had listened to the views of our people.
I was glad to see that my good comrade Jeremy Corbyn managed to raise Iraq again at Blair's final Prime Minister questions today. Whether he likes it or not this is his legacy, and Brown would be well-advised to make his the withdrawal from this horrific situation.
EDM 1777: Withdrawal of British troops from Iraq
That this House calls upon the new Prime Minister to announce as his first act in office a timetable for the withdrawal of British troops from Iraq.
The loss of life of Iraqis and British soldiers has caused so much heart-rending suffering. It would be a significant start to his period in office if the new Prime Minister set a timetable for withdrawal.
This would be a radical break from the Blair era and reflect the majority opinion of both the Party and the country. It would also demonstrate that he had listened to the views of our people.
I was glad to see that my good comrade Jeremy Corbyn managed to raise Iraq again at Blair's final Prime Minister questions today. Whether he likes it or not this is his legacy, and Brown would be well-advised to make his the withdrawal from this horrific situation.
EDM 1777: Withdrawal of British troops from Iraq
That this House calls upon the new Prime Minister to announce as his first act in office a timetable for the withdrawal of British troops from Iraq.
posted by John at 12:50 PM
9 Comments:
PMQ's today was little more than a back slapping exercise from all sides of the house. Even the tories wanted to be seen 'congratulating' Blair on his years in office.
Whilst Iraq was mentioned I fear the significance of the question will be lost in the media scrum covering the rest of today's events.
Who knows Mr(Unelected)Brown may surprise us all with such a statement that a complete phased withdrawal will commence shortly? Some of the coverage he has been receiving lately seems to suggest he is at the very least sympathetic to such a position.
You John must continue to assert the socialist program as best you can. Clearly as the only competition to Brown's leadership crowning you occupy a unique position.
You must use this position to catch Michael Martins eye at every future opportunity to question the new PM and try to shape policy.
If democracy in this Country is to survive then Michael Martin who of course should not be uninfluenced by the Government will allow you to speak.
Judging from what I saw of PMQs today the left is in for a tough ride in the months ahead. Already, the slightest questioning of Brown is being met with cries of "disloyalty" and there seems to be collective amnesia going on in the PLP so let's hope the EDM gets more support. It was very brave indeed of Jeremy Corbyn to raise the Iraq issue in such a surreal and febrile atmosphere.
As Brown enters his honeymoon period, it will be really hard to stand up to the cries for tribal closing of ranks.But we must stand firm for socialist values. Brown uses Labour rhetoric but has said NOTHING so far to indicate a change for the better. I'm not holding my breath.
A Labour Leader who can welcome someone like Quentin Davies into the Party has some serious questions to answer.I'm sure MPs like yourself and Jeremy Corbyn will continue to raise them.
when welcoming davies in, brown said he wanted to form a 'government of national unity'
like ramsay mcdonald?!
all the signs are bad so far.
apart from the internet you can read the Morning Star for the real news. I occasionally am forced to go to the unethical ASDA a few miles away from me if I can't get something locally and it's actually sold there of all places though I couldn't see a Guardian today. Presume the ASDA management haven't ever read it or they would probably ban it! You can also get it online.
We will see what else happens tomorrow but David Miliband as Foreign Sec is an over promotion too far in my view!!!
God only knows who he else Brown will put in his Cabinet, the mind boggles and we must watch it for lack of women. Ed Balls was trying to say anyone with good ideas could be in the Cabinet regardless of party affiliation - words fail me again and again...
Seeing that tory Shaun Woodward in the cabinet simply makes me puke, paid or unpaid.
And digby jones given a job in the lords and that tory defector just before Brown was PM is also a worrying sign.
The only way I think socialism has any chance now if for a real revolution. I think reclaiming the Labour party, while a worthwhile cause probably isn't going to happen with so many tories in the party.
No matter which party now wins the next election, it will just be the same thatherite agenda that festers like a cancer at the heart of government.
John, you can see whats happening to the party!! Dont live on false hope, get out of there now!!
McDonnell, who the fuck are you to be demanding anything of the new Prime Minister? You got only 8%. You've put up, now shut up.
Time for the resurrection of the Independent Labour Party (ILP).
http://gdl.cdlr.strath.ac.uk/redclyde/redclyeve24.htm
http://tinyurl.com/2qp6no
George Dutton,
As Independent Labour Publications, the ILP continues to exist. You can click into its web-site from the link at the right hand side of my blog. My own posts, in three parts on 30 May, 1 June and 2 June are submissions to its recent discussion week-end. They are entited "Towards a Socialist Perspective". These might not, however, be fully to your taste as the ILP finally got Maxton out of its system when it returned with a letter of safe conduct back into the Labour Party in the mid-1970s when I first established links with them. I was later a host for a 100th Anniverary Celebration it held in the Commons in 1993. But it is not a Political Party any longer, it is an Educational Trust developing socialist ideas.
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