Here is the first draft of a note I shall send to my MP when I've had a chance to reflect:
"Dear Keith,
I am writing this at half past eight at Monday evening, having returned from an abortive attempt to attend the meeting at Lambeth Town Hall billed as having Geoff Hoon speak. I learnt from the Liberal (a Liberal politician) Leader of the Council that the meeting had been moved to the House of Commons, after nine o'clock this morning. I have been a Party Member since 1984 and I have never felt so close to resigning my party membership. At a time when most of the country, and, certainly, many Labour Party members are opposed to the war in Iraq, or, at least have serious qualms, I welcomed the opportunity for a frank debate in a party meeting. I have to say that I am appalled at the poor level of publicity that has surrounded this meeting: quite a contrast, for example, from when we all received a personal invitation to Brixton Recreation Centre to hear Tony Blair and Neil Kinnock campaign against Ken Livingstone. It seems that the pending, but inevitable decision by the British Government, to participate in a disastrous war is not fit to be debated by Party members.
I am particularly disgusted at the decision to move the meeting to the House. It's hardly consistent with making meetings more accessible to party members. I work all day, so cannot pick up the anyway non-existent email to notify me of the change of venue. And I am very much in the minority of Brixton Hill members in having an email. I can only conclude that the meeting was moved so that Geoff would not have to be subject to challenging or hostile questions from long-standing party members, and, instead, be accountable only to a small, hand-picked group of people so desperate to further their own careers they would never speak 'out of turn'. Or was it avoid the demonstrators outside? Was he afraid of a group of Trots and Christians? I'm sorry, but in my eight years as a councillor, I had to face many a demonstrator. It's the price we pay for democracy and free speech.
I wanted an opportunity to ask Geoff Hoon why he thinks it necessary for the UK to go to war now, against that enemy. I also wanted to extract from him a pledge that he will do what he can to ensure that our foreign policy in the future will never again to support a tyrant like Saddam Hussein, who was supported by the Tories in the Eighties and like the various tyrants and despots we continue to support around the world.
I am aware of large numbers of people, outside the Labour Party, but in principle supportive of a principled Labour Party who will not vote Labour at the next General Election. I will vote for you, personally, but I will pray to my god for forgiveness for endorsing the Government.
Many people are wanting an explanation of why Tony Blair et al are supporting the policy of Rumsfeld, Cheney and Bush. This evening was the opportunity for Geoff Hoon to explain. His failure to show was a bad day for democracy, and for the Labour Party.
Yours comradely
