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Blair rejects Iraq pull-out call Blair rejects Iraq pull-out call
(about 2 hours later)
Tony Blair has dismissed a Liberal Democrat call for UK troops to leave Iraq by the end of October, saying it would send a "disastrous signal".Tony Blair has dismissed a Liberal Democrat call for UK troops to leave Iraq by the end of October, saying it would send a "disastrous signal".
Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell said soldiers should start a five-month "staged withdrawal" in May.Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell said soldiers should start a five-month "staged withdrawal" in May.
But Mr Blair told the Commons such an "arbitrary timetable" was unworkable.But Mr Blair told the Commons such an "arbitrary timetable" was unworkable.
Sir Menzies also criticised the prime minister for deciding not to lead a debate on Iraq. But No 10 said this was normal practice. MPs holding the first full-scale Commons debate on Iraq since 2004 have criticised Mr Blair for being absent - but No 10 said it was normal practice.
'Should debate' Sir Menzies is the only one of the three main UK party leaders to suggest a withdrawal date.
Sir Menzies is the first main UK party leader to suggest a definite withdrawal date.
Mr Blair missed the Iraq debate to give a speech on public services to a meeting of business leaders.
HAVE YOUR SAY Pulling out is a complete betrayal of the Iraqi people David Shepherd, Withernsea Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAY Pulling out is a complete betrayal of the Iraqi people David Shepherd, Withernsea Send us your comments
Sir Menzies, speaking at prime minister's questions, said: "If he feels so strongly, he should come to debate these issues." At prime minister's questions Mr Blair said: "For us to set an arbitrary timetable... that we will pull British troops out in October, come what may... would send the most disastrous signal to the people we are fighting in Iraq.
There was "nothing more important", he added. "It is a policy which, whatever its superficial attractions may be, is actually deeply irresponsible."
Mr Blair replied that he was debating the issue "now", adding that Iraq was in "circumstances of difficulty and danger". In reply Sir Menzies said: "If he feels so strongly, he should come to debate these issues. What could possibly be more important than that the Prime Minister should be here to debate the issue of Iraq at a time when British forces are at risk every day in respect of their lives?"
He added: "They [UK troops] are there under a United Nations resolution, with the full support of the government of Iraq." But Mr Blair, who was addressing business leaders on the public services rather than taking part in the debate, pointed out that they were already debating Iraq.
Pulling out now "would send the most disastrous signal to the people of Iraq", he said.
Basra handoverBasra handover
Earlier, 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, said Britain should carry out a staged withdrawal of UK forces between May and October.
"But between 1 May and the end of October we should conduct a staged withdrawal of United Kingdom forces.
"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."
Left-wing Labour MP John McDonnell said it was a "shocking negation of his responsibilities" to miss the Commons debate on Iraq. Where would this House have been in the Second World War if Winston Churchill had only attended when there was a 'turning point'? William Hague
The prime minister's official spokesman said it was "not the practice" for Mr Blair to lead foreign affairs debates. During the debate shadow foreign secretary William Hague returned to Mr Blair's failure to attend, asking: "Where would this House have been in the Second World War if Winston Churchill had only attended when there was a 'turning point'?"
'Clear strategy'
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."
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.
Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett, opening the Iraq debate, accused the Tories of "double standards", saying previous prime ministers Margaret Thatcher and John Major had also not attended foreign policy debates.
She said Mr Blair was "not a prime minister who can at all be accused of avoiding the scrutiny of this House, he has set precedents that no previous prime minister has been prepared to set".
'Unprecedented'
Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague said: "Where would this House have been in the Second World War if Winston Churchill had only attended when there was a 'turning point'?"
He also said: "We will have to face up to the fact that the situation there [in Iraq] now is a grim one and a serious one."He also said: "We will have to face up to the fact that the situation there [in Iraq] now is a grim one and a serious one."
The government agreed to the debate on Iraq and the wider Middle East under a technical procedure known as an adjournment debate. But Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett accused the Tories of "double standards". She said Tory former prime ministers Margaret Thatcher and John Major had not attended foreign policy debates.
As no substantive motion will be put, MPs will not have a chance to vote for a change in policy. Vote
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. No leader had put themselves before the "scrutiny of Parliament" more than Mr Blair, she added, and he would report back to the Commons, once Operation Sinbad had finished in southern Iraq.
She also told the Commons that British troops could hand control of Basra to local authorities this spring, but any definitive timetable for withdrawal would be "dangerous and irresponsible"
The government agreed to hold the adjournment debate on Iraq and the wider Middle East after calls from MPs for the chance to debate the situation.
As no substantive motion will be put, MPs will not have a chance to vote for a change in policy. 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.
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.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.