I voted against an attack on Iraq when this was debated in the Commons on Tuesday 18th March 2003, and have always been opposed to the war. I was one of the first MPs to raise this issue. As long ago as November 2001 I asked the Prime Minister at question time to say that we would not support attacks on other countries such as Iraq .

Now that we are occupying Iraq it is clear that there is still considerable opposition. The attacks which are occurring on UK and US troops seem to be growing in number. There is no sign at all yet of a genuine Iraqi administration emerging, and it is unlikely to do so in the near future. The longer the present situation continues, the more I believe we will be seen purely as occupiers and have less and less support from the people of Iraq.

The reconstruction of Iraq is going to be long and slow. The US has ensured that only large US companies are being awarded contracts, and companies from other countries are not even allowed to bid. That again is going to increase resentment against US and UK forces in Iraq.

The failure to find weapons of mass destruction does not surprise me. I never believed the stories that Iraq had weapons which could threaten us directly, or be ready to launch and use in 45 minutes.

You can read my speech, making clear my total opposition to the war, made back in November 2002, before the war started, on the 'Parliament' page.

See also my press release from February 2003 on Iraq and the United Nations

June 2003

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