As a member of the Labour Party I am fully signed up to receiving a weekly email from my Party. During the Main and Spring conferences this becomes a daily one. On big days eg Budget Day, I get a bonus one. And I like it, it's a way to get an idea of what the party thinks is important without the filtering of the media who may have a separate agenda. It always come from The Labour Party, and is generally sent on a bcc basis. The General Secretary sent one on Wednesday saying that he was responding to Party members who had contacted him wanting briefings on Iraq. Which I think is good.
Today, I received an email from "Tony Blair" - I've included the full text below in case you're interested. I don't know if I object more to the "Dear Colleague" salutation, or the standard but meaningless "This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed." Or mayb ethat it was personally emailed to my email address.
I recall canvassing in the 1998 council elections and an elderly woman promised she would vote for me because I'm Irish (I'm not but if she wants to believe that...) , and because Tony Blair's Irish, and because he's gorgeous.
In the 1999 European Elections I was leafletting. The leaflet contained a photo of the ten candidates in Greater London, and, on the front page, a photo of Our Tone looking boyish yet Prime Ministerial. Another elderly woman said with what I believe to be all sincerity "Ooh, I'll put this under my pillow!"
I don't think the personal email from Tony will have quite the same effect, you know. And I think there's a disingenuity in sending it out. It's like some apparatchik at Millbank wants us to support the war because Tony's basically a nice bloke who plays the guitar. It doesn't work like that.
20 March 2003
Dear Colleague
I am writing to you following the House of Commons vote earlier this week
and the beginning of military action in Iraq.
Our party has held its discussions on this issue without rancour and with
respect for each others' views. There are deeply held views and that is
natural, for there are few more serious choices a country can face than
whether or not to take part in military action.
The Government has taken the decision to use military action to ensure the
disarmament of Iraq, not because we have any quarrel with the people of Iraq
- in fact they have suffered more than anyone under the tyrannical Iraqi
regime. We have done so to enforce the many UN resolutions on Iraq and its
weapons of mass destruction which have been passed over the years.
For many years the Labour Party has firmly supported attempts to stop the
proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, but I can assure you that
there was no inevitability about military action in Iraq. Saddam Hussein
could have chosen to comply with the UN and disarm peacefully. Instead, for
twelve years he defied its decisions, misled its inspectors and used every
means possible to hold on to and develop his chemical and biological
weapons.
In addition his brutal dictatorship has engaged in a sustained campaign of
repression against his own people. The death and torture camps, barbaric
prisons for political opponents and routine beatings for anyone suspected of
disloyalty are well documented. If Saddam Hussein's regime continues in this
way, many more Iraqi people will be killed and tortured in the future.
All the while he has hoped that division between countries and uncertain
public opinion in the democracies would weaken our resolve and allow him to
carry on in power unchecked.
What he has failed to understand is that democracy and open debate are
strengths not weaknesses. In all matters, however, there comes a point when
a judgement has to be made. Having taken our decision, this country will now
pursue our aims with firm resolve and with determination.
Yet if we only disarm Saddam, we will not have completed our task. It is
also vital that the world engages in a sustained humanitarian effort to help
the people of Iraq after their years of living under such a repressive
regime. Sixty per cent of the Iraqi population is today dependent on food
aid, despite the fact that the Oil for Food Programme allows Saddam to sell
as much oil as he wants in order to provide food for his people.
That situation cannot continue. As I said in the debate in the House of
Commons this week, the United Nations should be authorised to meet the
humanitarian needs of the Iraqi people. Iraq's territorial integrity should
be protected and Iraq's oil revenues, which some people falsely claim are a
reason for military action, should be put in a trust fund for the Iraqi
people administered through the UN.
I also know that many in the Labour Party care deeply about the plight of
people whose lives are being devastated by lack of progress in the Middle
East peace process.
That's why last Friday's announcement by President Bush agreeing to publish
the Middle East Roadmap is such a significant step. It provides the route to
a permanent, two state solution with clear phases and target dates aimed at
progress through steps by both sides in all the relevant areas. And the
destination is a final and comprehensive settlement of the Israel -
Palestinian conflict by 2005. I am determined that we should use all our
influence to secure the implementation of this vision for the future of the
Middle East.
Our vision for the future of Iraq is of a country free of repression able to
live peacefully alongside its neighbours and develop in a way its own people
choose. It is I believe a progressive vision.
We may face difficult times ahead but the decision we have taken is right.
It is important now that our party and our country come together and support
our armed forces in the task they face.
Yours sincerely,
Rt Hon Tony Blair MP
Leader of the Labour Party
