Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Blair Ducks Iraq Flak.
A House of Commons debate on the conflict in Iraq is taking place today, and it has been left to the hapless and unlikely foreign secretary Margaret Beckett to defend the government’s position, while Prime Minister Blair chose to be elsewhere talking to the money men of the Confederation of British Industry.
Blair declared last year he would debate Iraq "anytime, anywhere".
Andrew Murray, chairman of the Stop The War Coalition, said: "This is an extraordinary sense of priority. The prime minister should be in the Commons to explain his disastrous Middle East policy to MPs rather than discussing job cuts with employers."
Labour MP John McDonnell, who has announced he will stand for the Labour leadership when Mr Blair stands down, said he was "shocked" at Mr Blair's priorities.
"He cannot find time to attend a debate in the House of Commons about a policy that is undermining his legacy, preferring to speak to big business. It is a shocking negation of his responsibilities."
Before the debate, Blair used prime minister’s questions to reject a call for a withdrawal by October, then got the Hell out of there before the discussion, and the strong criticism, began.
See all recent posts.
Blair declared last year he would debate Iraq "anytime, anywhere".
Andrew Murray, chairman of the Stop The War Coalition, said: "This is an extraordinary sense of priority. The prime minister should be in the Commons to explain his disastrous Middle East policy to MPs rather than discussing job cuts with employers."
Labour MP John McDonnell, who has announced he will stand for the Labour leadership when Mr Blair stands down, said he was "shocked" at Mr Blair's priorities.
"He cannot find time to attend a debate in the House of Commons about a policy that is undermining his legacy, preferring to speak to big business. It is a shocking negation of his responsibilities."
Before the debate, Blair used prime minister’s questions to reject a call for a withdrawal by October, then got the Hell out of there before the discussion, and the strong criticism, began.
See all recent posts.
© Colcam 2005-2007
