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| Britain |
| UK: Tory leader says Iraq war vote was wrong |
| 2004-07-19 |
| Michael Howard was accused of opportunism last night after he tried to increase pressure on Tony Blair ahead of tomorrow's Commons debate on the Butler report by qualifying his support for the Iraq war. The Conservative leader said he would not have backed the Government in last year's crucial vote authorising war if he had known No 10's claims about weapons of mass destruction were so unreliable. Mr Blair secured narrow support for military action against a big Labour rebellion last March thanks to the votes of Tory MPs including Mr Howard, who now believes he was misled. Yesterday he sought to keep attention on the Prime Minister's credibility amid signs of Tory unease at the party's failure to make headway against Labour under his leadership. I'm sure Howard would have done exactly the same as Blair in the same situation, and weasling around now doesn't change anything. Way to lose support, Howard... This week will mark the final opportunity for Mr Howard to attack Mr Blair - either in tomorrow's debate or at question time on Wednesday - before Parliament rises for the summer recess. But it will also be a test of Mr Howard's ability to command the support of his MPs, who were dismayed to see the Tories slump to third place in last week's by-elections. Although there is no threat to his position, he may struggle to dispel a growing feeling among Tories that the optimism of his first six months as leader has evaporated and that the party is destined for a third consecutive general election defeat. Lord Tebbit, the former Tory chairman, said the Tories were "waffling along" under a "colourless" leader. Chris Patten, another former chairman, urged Mr Howard not to be "panicked" into moving to the Right. That what Patten said? Time to go right, then. Mr Howard stopped short of calling for Mr Blair's resignation, but he claimed that he could not have supported the Government motion last year because it referred to Iraq's "weapons of mass destruction and long-range missiles" posing "a threat to international security". Tory officials denied that he had performed a U-turn. But Labour accused Mr Howard of plumbing "new depths of opportunism and hypocrisy". Hilary Benn, the International Development Secretary, said: "He lacks any credibility whatsoever." Sounds like an attempt at opportunism, more worthy of Charles Kennedy. If Howard has doubts now, then he has to admit he misjudged things before. Methinks he missed a good opportunity to keep quiet. |
| Posted by:Bulldog |
| #7 The above should have read: It wouldn't be the first time it's happened to the Conservative Party. |
| Posted by: Zhang Fei 2004-07-19 11:26:31 PM |
| #6 LH: Isnt it worth questioning the war in Iraq, in order to keep Tony from passing the Euro Constitution? Actually, the Tories *want* to pass the EU constitution, having given in to the business lobby a long time ago. The Conservative Party is now the party of Chris Patten, not Winston Churchill. This isn't about the EU - it's about power, and if they have to become communists to take power, they will. It would be the first time it's happened to the Conservative Party. After all, wasn't it Edward Heath who took wholeheartedly to the welfare state? |
| Posted by: Zhang Fei 2004-07-19 11:25:44 PM |
| #5 Nah, its what ALL politicians think - "I am all that stands in the way of disaster" so anythings legit to elect ME. Isnt it worth questioning the war in Iraq, in order to keep Tony from passing the Euro Constitution? Like we dont get this kind of thing from folks on BOTH sides of the aisle right here in the good old USA? |
| Posted by: Liberalhawk 2004-07-19 5:12:59 PM |
| #4 Sigh. I'm with SH. Is this just the enemy of my enemy shit? Or are they serious? WTF is going on with UK politics? Is this what they all really want? Does Tony stand utterly alone, over there? Sheesh, wotta messy political scene. BTW, does anyone have a link to images of those pink tanks they rolled out for Bush's last visit? |
| Posted by: .com 2004-07-19 5:09:23 PM |
| #3 I guess UK politics have confused me once again. I would not have expected this type of statment from a Tory. I thought the Tories were the party of Churchill and Thatcher. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2004-07-19 4:54:35 PM |
| #2 This is why if I were a Brit I'd be voting UKIP. ;) |
| Posted by: someone 2004-07-19 11:52:20 AM |
| #1 Need I add that this only confirms my view of the outstanding leadership of Tony Blair? |
| Posted by: Liberalhawk 2004-07-19 9:53:46 AM |
