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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Beckett attacks Iraq war debate | Beckett attacks Iraq war debate |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett criticised the tone of debate over the Iraq war as she addressed delegates at the TUC conference in Brighton. | Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett criticised the tone of debate over the Iraq war as she addressed delegates at the TUC conference in Brighton. |
| Mrs Beckett did not face a repeat of the heckling experienced by Tony Blair. | |
| But she said the tenor of debate was now at a point where some people no longer thought there was anything wrong with Saddam Hussein's regime. | But she said the tenor of debate was now at a point where some people no longer thought there was anything wrong with Saddam Hussein's regime. |
| She urged a "step change" in relations between the Foreign Office and the TUC to tackle problems around the world. | She urged a "step change" in relations between the Foreign Office and the TUC to tackle problems around the world. |
| The prime minister faced booing, cries of "troops out and a walkout from a small section of rail union delegates on Tuesday. | The prime minister faced booing, cries of "troops out and a walkout from a small section of rail union delegates on Tuesday. |
| In contrast, Mrs Beckett received only one heckle at the end of her speech, raising concerns about UK policy in Iraq, Afghanistan and Lebanon. | In contrast, Mrs Beckett received only one heckle at the end of her speech, raising concerns about UK policy in Iraq, Afghanistan and Lebanon. |
| The delegate accused her of being "Blairite to the core". | The delegate accused her of being "Blairite to the core". |
| 'Bound to be deaths' | 'Bound to be deaths' |
| In a questions session, transport union delegate Jimmy Kelly pointed to the "slaughter of so many thousands of innocent Iraqis people" and the growth of the anti-war movement. | In a questions session, transport union delegate Jimmy Kelly pointed to the "slaughter of so many thousands of innocent Iraqis people" and the growth of the anti-war movement. |
| To applause, he asked Mrs Beckett if the government regretted anything about going to war. | To applause, he asked Mrs Beckett if the government regretted anything about going to war. |
| Mrs Beckett replied: "Of course any military action is bound to lead to deaths on both sides and it is bound to be the case that there are regrets for those deaths." | Mrs Beckett replied: "Of course any military action is bound to lead to deaths on both sides and it is bound to be the case that there are regrets for those deaths." |
| And there had been "episodes of misbehaviour that should never have been done". | And there had been "episodes of misbehaviour that should never have been done". |
| But she did not regret either the fact there was now an elected Iraqi Parliament or the growth in parts of Iraq of a peaceful, more secure and more stable regime. | But she did not regret either the fact there was now an elected Iraqi Parliament or the growth in parts of Iraq of a peaceful, more secure and more stable regime. |
| Mrs Beckett said the UK was raising concerns with the Iraqi Government about the freedom of trade unions. | Mrs Beckett said the UK was raising concerns with the Iraqi Government about the freedom of trade unions. |
| Colombia fears | Colombia fears |
| The foreign secretary also faced questions about human rights in China and UK support for European social initiatives. | The foreign secretary also faced questions about human rights in China and UK support for European social initiatives. |
| Mary Bousted, leader of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, raised fears about UK military aid to Colombia. | Mary Bousted, leader of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, raised fears about UK military aid to Colombia. |
| If the government thought it was boosting human rights in the South American country, it was not working, she argued. | If the government thought it was boosting human rights in the South American country, it was not working, she argued. |
| Ms Bousted told how she had heard on a recent visit to Colombia from political prisoners and others about assassinations, torture and disappearances. | Ms Bousted told how she had heard on a recent visit to Colombia from political prisoners and others about assassinations, torture and disappearances. |
| This was part of "state sponsored terrorism", she claimed. | This was part of "state sponsored terrorism", she claimed. |
| "The British Government's support is being used by the Colombian Government to legitimise its oppression by terror of civil society," argued Ms Bousted. | "The British Government's support is being used by the Colombian Government to legitimise its oppression by terror of civil society," argued Ms Bousted. |
| 'No imperialism' | 'No imperialism' |
| Mrs Beckett accepted there was a real problem in Colombia and the UK had voiced its concern about the ill-treatment of a range of groups. | Mrs Beckett accepted there was a real problem in Colombia and the UK had voiced its concern about the ill-treatment of a range of groups. |
| She said there was a dispute about whether the abuses were state policy but the Colombian Government was not succeeding in tackling the problems. | She said there was a dispute about whether the abuses were state policy but the Colombian Government was not succeeding in tackling the problems. |
| "We don't believe the very small amount of military aid we give is a contributory factor," said Mrs Beckett. | "We don't believe the very small amount of military aid we give is a contributory factor," said Mrs Beckett. |
| In her platform speech, she said the underlying causes of global crises had to be confronted to prevent future conflict and flows of refugees. | In her platform speech, she said the underlying causes of global crises had to be confronted to prevent future conflict and flows of refugees. |
| She defended moves to encourage human rights in failed states, saying: "We must never fall into the trap of thinking that pushing democratic values in the world is some sort of unacceptable cultural imperialism." | She defended moves to encourage human rights in failed states, saying: "We must never fall into the trap of thinking that pushing democratic values in the world is some sort of unacceptable cultural imperialism." |
| Mrs Beckett said the Foreign Office should be doing a lot more with the trade union movement, which could influence international organisations. | Mrs Beckett said the Foreign Office should be doing a lot more with the trade union movement, which could influence international organisations. |
| "Come to us with your ideas and your suggestions," she said. | "Come to us with your ideas and your suggestions," she said. |