Geoff Brewer, Liberal Democrats, Kingswood

Constituency: Kingswood
Candidate Name: Geoff Brewer
Political Party: Liberal Democrat

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

No, he clearly got it wrong.

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

No, it was not sanctioned by the UN.

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

No, sadly world peace remains under threat but as an environmentalist I believe human inaction on the environmental threat is currently the biggest danger to the world.

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

No, as an ex member of the Royal Air Force I hold the view that serving Queen & country is a duty not a hobby that pays the wage only in peacetime.

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

Of course citizens of every country have a right to sovereignty but in this particular case it was not so much an occupation, the people were oppressed and the UN is the correct body to tackle such issues.

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

Yes, he surely couldn’t get it wrong twice?

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

Only if sanctioned by UN

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

No, for starters it’s against the Geneva Convention

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

Unfortunately someone (the UN) has to police the world and we have to ensure these horrid weapons don’t get in the hands of corrupt regimes.

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

Personally – yes, I am not at all comfortable with the fact this lone man holds so much power.

Additional Comments from Geoff Brewer (Lib Dem Kingswood)

I have completed and attach your form but also offer more detail below.
Please note, my replies on your form contain my personal views.

Regards - Geoff

Iraq:

We should not have gone to war in 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. Thousands of soldiers and civilians have been killed, it has cost Britain over £3.5 billion, and has increased the terrorist threat. We support the transition to a fully democratic and legitimate government, and the superb work of British troops. But the open-ended presence of coalition forces is destabilising - the objective should be phased withdrawal of British forces by the expiry of the UN mandate at the end of this year.

Syria and Iran:

These questions can be answered by referring back to the line we took before the Iraq war, I.e. that war should be the absolute last resort after all other diplomatic avenues have been exhausted.

Evidence obtained under torture:

The Liberal Democrats were instrumental in achieving several amendments to the Prevention of Terrorism Act, including a clear undertaking from the Home Secretary that evidence obtained from abroad under torture will be inadmissible.

Weapons of Mass Destruction:

The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction materials and technologies, especially to terrorist organisations and unstable states is as cause of great concern. Liberal Democrats believe that international treaties that address the possession, proliferation and use of such weapons are necessary to achieve our long-term goal of the elimination of WMD. In the shorter term, the UK should actively participate in measures to reduce stocks of such weapons and to ensure their verifiable safety and security.

Liberal Democrats would:

• Press for the negotiation of a Nuclear Weapons Convention in order to take forward the undertaking pledged of nuclear weapon states at the NPT Review Conference 2000 to work towards the elimination of their nuclear arsenals. The UK should convene a meeting of the nuclear weapons states party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty to discuss a timetable and framework for the Convention.
• Call for the UN Security Council to set up a nuclear safety taskforce to verify that all states which posses nuclear weapons including India, Israel and Pakistan have measures in place to ensure that their nuclear materials weapons are safe, secure and accounted for.
• Press for the universal ratification of and adherence to the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.
• Press for the acceptance of a protocol to the Biological Weapons Convention to establish an effective verification programme.
• Support the effective implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention including reinvigorating the work of the organisation for the Prevention of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) ensuring they have resources to carry out their responsibilities.
• Establish an EU Decommissioning Body to co-ordinate EU financed efforts to decommission and make safe nuclear facilities and materials.

Published and Promoted by Jim Corrigan on behalf of Geoff Brewer (Liberal Democrat), both at 9 Lansdown View Kingswood Bristol BS15 4AW Printed by Telewest Broadband Eurobell, Eurobell House, Alexandra Road
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