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Time to quit this war party
• COUNCILLOR Barry Edwards’ letter is only half true (Labour’s anti-war record, June 8).
Of course, 138 Labour MPs and very many Labour members and supporters voted or demonstrated against the invasion of Iraq but how seriously can we take them?
It was said that the MPs’ rebellion was the largest since that against the Irish Home Rule Bill in 1886. Let us compare the two. The Liberal rebels of 1886 knew that if there were enough of them the bill would fall because the Conservatives opposed it and it did.
The Labour rebels of 2003 knew the government would get its way because all but 15 Conservatives voted with it. After the 1886 vote the rebels and their supporters in the country left the Liberal Party and formed the Liberal Unionists.
Most of the 2003 rebels, having made their gesture, returned to the fold. Months later, when it was clear to everyone that invading Iraq had been a gratuitous folly far worse than Suez, a motion to censure the Prime Minister got the support of just 12 Labour MPs, of whom Jeremy Corbyn was one.
The fact is that most Labour MPs have supported the government throughout and, it seems, come under no pressure from their constituency parties to change their minds.
While I am sure anti-war Labour members such as Cllr Edwards are honest they are, objectively, deluding themselves and others into believing that Labour is not the war party. It is and they should leave it.
STEPHEN HORNE
Election agent, Islington Green Party
Romilly Road, N4
• I HAD to smirk when I read Councillor Barry Edwards’ letter.
His open invitation for people to get involved in the Labour Party is all well and good, but on an anti-Iraq war ticket? What’s next? Perhaps inviting us to become a member of the Labour Party in order to show support for ID cards.
Labour are in government because they have more MPs in Parliament than any other party. That overall majority has given them the mandate to govern over the past 10 years and do as they pleased.
Two of those MPs helping to keep them in power are right here in Islington – there’s no two ways about it.
Anyway, I will send a copy of this letter to Newcastle – to head Cllr Edwards off at the post while he hauls coals there.
KEITH ANGUS
Batchelor Street, N1 |
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