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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Quit Iraq by October - Lib Dems | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| British forces should begin a "staged withdrawal" from Iraq in May, with the last forces leaving by the end of October, the Liberal Democrats say. | British forces should begin a "staged withdrawal" from Iraq in May, with the last forces leaving by the end of October, the Liberal Democrats say. |
| Leader Sir Menzies Campbell said ministers should now spend three months consulting coalition and regional allies over precise details. | Leader Sir Menzies Campbell said ministers should now spend three months consulting coalition and regional allies over precise details. |
| He is the first main UK party leader to suggest a definite withdrawal date. | He is the first main UK party leader to suggest a definite withdrawal date. |
| His call came as Tony Blair faced criticism for deciding not to lead a debate on Iraq on Wednesday. | His call came as Tony Blair faced criticism for deciding not to lead a debate on Iraq on Wednesday. |
| Instead Mr Blair will be giving a speech on public services to a meeting of business leaders. | Instead Mr Blair will be giving a speech on public services to a meeting of business leaders. |
| Basra date | Basra date |
| Sir Menzies, whose party is the third largest in the UK parliament and opposed the war in 2003, said: "I think we should spend the next three months discussing with regional allies and with coalition allies what we propose to do. | Sir Menzies, whose party is the third largest in the UK parliament and opposed the war in 2003, said: "I think we should spend the next three months discussing with regional allies and with coalition allies what we propose to do. |
| "But between 1 May and the end of October we should conduct a staged withdrawal of United Kingdom forces. | "But between 1 May and the end of October we should conduct a staged withdrawal of United Kingdom forces. |
| He should now be in the House to reassure Parliament and the country that the government understands the gravity of situation William Hague, Conservatives | He should now be in the House to reassure Parliament and the country that the government understands the gravity of situation William Hague, Conservatives |
| "In May the three provinces, according to the government, will be handed back to the Iraqis - Basra can be handed back sometime between May and July, we can hand over the transport route between Kuwait and Baghdad which we presently protect for the United States. | "In May the three provinces, according to the government, will be handed back to the Iraqis - Basra can be handed back sometime between May and July, we can hand over the transport route between Kuwait and Baghdad which we presently protect for the United States. |
| "We can withdraw the RAF aircraft that are operating out of Qatar and by October we should be able to bring all of our British forces back." | "We can withdraw the RAF aircraft that are operating out of Qatar and by October we should be able to bring all of our British forces back." |
| The prime minister is due to address a CBI conference, but left-wing Labour MP John McDonnell said it was a "shocking negation of his responsibilities" to miss a Commons debate on Iraq. | The prime minister is due to address a CBI conference, but left-wing Labour MP John McDonnell said it was a "shocking negation of his responsibilities" to miss a Commons debate on Iraq. |
| Sir Menzies has written asking Mr Blair to attend, while the Tories also said he should lead the debate. | |
| But the prime minister's official spokesman said it was "not the practice" for Mr Blair to lead foreign affairs debates. | |
| He added: "He has made a commitment to the Commons to make a statement when Operation Sinbad is finished and assessed. That will be the appropriate point." | |
| The spokesman also said: "Arbitrary timetables would say to those opposed to us 'Here is a target to aim at' with regard to raising their profile." | |
| However, Sir Menzies said Mr Blair had a "public duty" to lead the debate. Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett is expected to do so instead when the debate begins at about 1240 GMT. | |
| 'Entitled' | 'Entitled' |
| Sir Menzies said it was nearly four years since Mr Blair had last opened a debate on Iraq, since when 130 British servicemen and women had died and, according to UN estimates, 34,000 Iraqis had been killed in 2006 alone. | Sir Menzies said it was nearly four years since Mr Blair had last opened a debate on Iraq, since when 130 British servicemen and women had died and, according to UN estimates, 34,000 Iraqis had been killed in 2006 alone. |
| "In these circumstances the British people are entitled to hear your analysis and strategy for withdrawal," he wrote. | "In these circumstances the British people are entitled to hear your analysis and strategy for withdrawal," he wrote. |
| "I consider that on an issue of such gravity the public are entitled to hear the party leaders." | "I consider that on an issue of such gravity the public are entitled to hear the party leaders." |
| Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague said: "He [Mr Blair] was in the House to lead us to war. | Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague said: "He [Mr Blair] was in the House to lead us to war. |
| "He should now be in the House to reassure Parliament and the country that the government understands the gravity of situation in Iraq and has a clear strategy for making Iraq safe and stable." | "He should now be in the House to reassure Parliament and the country that the government understands the gravity of situation in Iraq and has a clear strategy for making Iraq safe and stable." |
| The government agreed to allow the debate on Iraq and the wider Middle East under a technical procedure known as an adjournment debate. | The government agreed to allow the debate on Iraq and the wider Middle East under a technical procedure known as an adjournment debate. |
| As no substantive motion will be put, MPs will not have a chance to vote for a change in policy. | As no substantive motion will be put, MPs will not have a chance to vote for a change in policy. |
| Protest | Protest |
| However, opponents of the war may choose to make a symbolic protest at the end of the debate by voting against the Commons adjourning for the evening. | However, opponents of the war may choose to make a symbolic protest at the end of the debate by voting against the Commons adjourning for the evening. |
| The Stop The War Coalition will stage a protest outside the Commons. | The Stop The War Coalition will stage a protest outside the Commons. |
| In October, the government saw off a cross-party bid by MPs to force an immediate inquiry to be held into the Iraq war. | In October, the government saw off a cross-party bid by MPs to force an immediate inquiry to be held into the Iraq war. |
| But Mr Blair has said he has not ruled out holding one in the future. | But Mr Blair has said he has not ruled out holding one in the future. |
| He has sidestepped growing calls for a full Commons debate on Iraq, saying he is happy to talk about it "at any time". | He has sidestepped growing calls for a full Commons debate on Iraq, saying he is happy to talk about it "at any time". |