Labour MPs seek exit strategy from Iraq

Rebel amendment to force Iraq debate

An amendment to the Queen's Speech has been tabled calling on the Government “to review its policy in Iraq and present its strategy for examination by the House at the earliest opportunity”.

Due to parliamentary convention the amendment cannot be tabled by Government backbench MPs, and so it has been tabled by Elfyn Llwyd. However, this issue will be decided by the votes of backbench Labour MPs.

Among the 30-plus Labour signatories to the amendment:

John McDonnell MP, Chair of Socialist Campaign Group of Labour MPs and Labour leadership challenger, said:

“The Government must bring forward a clear programme for the withdrawal of British forces from Iraq. The Government line of staying "until the job is done" is clearly no longer feasible. It is now widely accepted that the occupying forces are part of the problem and not part of the solution”

Jeremy Corbyn MP, founder member of the Stop the War Coalition, said:

“Parliament is there to examine what government does and serve the public interest. I hope on Monday that MPs will realise they have an opportunity to force a serious discussion on the war in Iraq. The war has provoked the biggest demo in British history and huge public debate. MPs ignore the public at their peril”

Alan Simpson MP, Chair of Labour Against the War, said:

“It is quite clear that the occupation of Iraq is spiralling rapidly towards its own demise. There is a chasm of credibility that divides government claims about the occupation from a coherent exit strategy. The latest announcement about an early withdrawal from Basra begs the question about what our exit strategy now is. This is a matter that should be subject to the scrutiny of the House. It is where government has to become accountable to parliament.

“One look at the names supporting this amendment demonstrates how far the momentum comes from within the Labour ranks than the minority parties”

David Taylor MP, one of top six sponsors of the amendment, said:

“Although I remain convinced that the original decision to go to war in Iraq was wrong, the Commons did debate it on 18th March 2003 and it follows that MPs should have the opportunity to debate how and when UK military forces are withdrawn from that stricken country prior to any withdrawal strategy being undertaken on the ground.”

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