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Lib Dem answers to 4 Stop the War questions
This is the advice issued by the Liberal Democrat party headquarters, for candidates answering the four questions drawn up by the UK Stop the War Coalition office.
1. Did you support the decision to attack Iraq in March 2003?
The Liberal Democrats did not support the decision to attack Iraq. There were no weapons of mass destruction, there was no serious and current threat, and inspectors were denied the time they needed to finish their job.
2. Do you support an end to the Anglo-US occupation of Iraq and the speedy withdrawal of British troops?
By invading Iraq the government has imposed on the UK a moral obligation to the Iraqi people to work towards the achievement of a stable, secure and democratic Iraq. Our armed forces continue to fulfil this responsibility with great courage and skill. However, we believe that the UK should now produce an exit strategy, which augments the democratic process, provides for Iraq’s security, and establishes the basis for the phased withdrawal of British troops by the expiry of the UN mandate at the end of 2005. There are three compelling reasons for the withdrawal of British troops:
i. Security – the open-ended presence of coalition forces is destabilising and fuels the insurgency.
ii. Sovereignty – withdrawal would support and entrench the full restoration of sovereignty to the Iraqi people.
iii. Legality – the presence of the coalition forces is authorised by the UN Security Council resolutions 1511 and 1546 – the mandate is due to expire in December this year.
i. Security – the open-ended presence of coalition forces is destabilising and fuels the insurgency.
ii. Sovereignty – withdrawal would support and entrench the full restoration of sovereignty to the Iraqi people.
iii. Legality – the presence of the coalition forces is authorised by the UN Security Council resolutions 1511 and 1546 – the mandate is due to expire in December this year.
3. Would you support British involvement in any further pre-emptive wars George Bush may choose to start, in the Middle East or elsewhere?
Liberal Democrats believe that military force should only ever be used as a last resort, and in accordance with international law, to protect Britain or British interests, or to halt systematic large-scale abuse of human rights such as in Kosovo.
4. Do you support the detention without trial, house arrest, ID cards and measures limiting civil liberties?
We opposed Labour’s plans to allow the Home Secretary to order house arrest and other restrictions on personal liberty. A British citizen’s liberty must only be removed through a fair judicial process, not on the command of politicians. Liberal Democrats achieved substantial amendment of the Prevention of Terrorism Act, but it still has serious flaws, and we will repeal it. Effective action against terrorism is vital, and our priority will be to extend the criminal law to enable terrorist suspects to be prosecuted in the mainstream courts. We will admit evidence from communications interception. If control orders are still required they must be granted by a judge, be time-limited and be subject to a high standard of proof.
We oppose Labour’s expensive, illiberal and ineffective ID card scheme. We would use the money to pay for 10,000 police on top of Labour’s plans.
We oppose Labour’s expensive, illiberal and ineffective ID card scheme. We would use the money to pay for 10,000 police on top of Labour’s plans.
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