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Second minister quits over Iraq
Tony Blair has been hit by another resignation from his Government over the looming war against Iraq, with Lord Hunt of Kings Heath, junior health minister, announcing he is stepping down. Lord Hunt? Must resist name jokes... The Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, on Radio 4 this morning asked "Who's Hunt?". He's been in the cabinet for four years, but even the Deputy PM hadn't noticed him till now... Later today the Prime Minister will face another major backbench revolt when MPs are given the chance to vote on war with Iraq. This could be the biggie revolt. Up to half the Labour backbenchers might rebel, and Blair could be reliant on the Tories for a Commons majority supporting his stance on Iraq. He doesn't need a commons vote to go to war, but politically his prospects hang in the balance... Clare Short, International Development Secretary, said this morning she would also be making a statement later about her future after spending the night reflecting on her position. It is expected that she will now stay in Government. And she will. Ms Short said last week that military action against Iraq without a second UN resolution would be "reckless". But not half as reckless as openly insulting your boss, the Prime Minister, only to realise within 24 hrs that it wasn't such a good idea. Mr Blair is facing probably the largest backbench rebellion of his premiership tonight, with up to 120 MPs queuing to sign an anti-war motion tabled late last night. This morning, after handing in his resignation, Lord Hunt said: "I'm under no illusion about the nature of the regime led by Saddam Hussein. I recognise the tremendous efforts made by the Prime Minister and other ministers to try and secure a second resolution. "But I do not feel we are justified in taking pre-emptive action without broad international support, or the clear support of the British people. "I'm also concerned about the long-term consequences for international stability of such pre-emptive action." "No! Don't challenge the status quo! I'm frightened, mummy..." Also speaking this morning, Robin Cook, who resigned yesterday as Leader of the House of Commons, said that it was "very much" in Britain's interests that it was part of an international community governed by rules. Rule no. 1: Become a homicidal tyrant if you want long-term job security. Mr Cook, whose powerful resignation statement won him a rare round of applause from MPs last night, said: "We are not a superpower. We cannot go it alone. We need to have alliances but it is also very much important to British domestic opinion. British domestic opinion wants to make sure that it does have a broad coalition behind it. What saddens me most when I look back over the past year — a year ago we had a broad international coalition much wider than I would ever have dared hope for to fight international terrorism. I think it is a tragedy, a mistake that we have allowed that great coalition to fall apart." So, the world according to Robin: The UK is weak and impotent, but nevertheless we need powerful superpower allies, preferably not the US. The anti-terror coalition has boiled down to a few genuinely comitted states because the US has actually followed through on its stated objectives whereas other allies considered lip service after 9/11 to be quite sufficient, thak you very much. Thank God Tony pulled him out of the Foreign Office in 2001. Posted by: Bulldog 2003-03-18 |
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