Sue Stebbing, Lib Dem, Swindon South

Constituency: Swindon South
Candidate Name: Sue Stebbing
Political Party: Liberal Democrat

(1.) Did you believe Tony Blair's 45 minute claim?

No. I thought it unlikely that the WMD actually existed and I wanted the inspectors to be given enough time to finish their work and establish the facts beyond doubt.

(2.) Do you believe the invasion of Iraq was legal?

No, I believe it was illegal under international law and the UN Charter. From the leaks we have heard, it seems likely that the Attorney General also thought it was illegal.

(3.) Do you think the world is a safer place since the invasion & occupation of Iraq?

Blair and Bush have undermined the United Nations and international law, not to mention destroyed trust in our government. How can that possibly make the world a safer place? It is true that a dictator has been overthrown but we have poured petrol on the smouldering coals of international terrorism.

(4.) Do you support Military Families Against The War's call to bring the British troops home?

I think we should now have an exit strategy which will allow for the phased withdrawal of British troops by the end of 2005, which is when the UN Security Council mandate expires. But we must make sure that we leave behind us a stable society that can continue to develop democratically

(5.) Do you think the Iraqi people have the right to resist the occupation?

The Iraqi government wants the troops to be there, at least for now, in order to give some security in the transition from a dictatorship to a democracy. I think violent resistance by the Iraqi people is counter-productive and will only inflict more pain and suffering on a country which has already suffered more than enough.

(6.) Would you believe Tony Blair if he said he had secret information that Syria or Iran was a threat to Britain?

I would want corroboration from other, independent, sources.

(7.) Would you support military action against Syria or Iran?

I believe that military force should only ever be used as a last resort and if it is the only possible way to protect our country, or to halt systematic large-scale abuse of human rights (such as in Kosovo). Even then, it must be within international law. Only if those criteria were clearly met, would I support military action anywhere.

(8.) Do you approve of evidence obtained under torture being used in British courts?

No. As a member of Amnesty International I have campaigned against the use of torture for years. To say that we don't do it in the UK but will use the 'fruits' of torture conducted by other nations in our judicial process is moral cowardice in my view. It is also stupid; there is considerable evidence that people under torture will say whatever they think will stop the agony.

(9.) Do you think the USA & Britain have the right to decide who can & can't have weapons of mass destruction?

International arms control is a matter for the United Nations, not individual countries.

(10.) Do you think George Bush is a threat to world peace?

On his record so far, I think he is. But I do sincerely hope that during his second term we will see a more conciliatory approach to international relations.

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