WHATEVER our reservations about the military action in which we are now engaged and which I support, we must now back our armed forces wholeheartedly in getting rid of an evil dictator.
But we are surely right to expect, on an issue of such momentous importance for our nation and the lives of others, that the Lib Dem MP for West Devon and Torridge should at last come off the fence and give a clear lead ? one way or the other. Whether we agree with him or not, we would at least be able to respect him for his moral courage in taking a clear stand.
Sadly, John Burnett is so used to trying to please contradictory interests on almost every issue that he seems incapable of rising to the challenge.
His decision to abstain last week on the government motion to support the use of military force to disarm Saddam Hussein and then to vote in favour of a motion stating that the case for war had not been made, while supporting the troops, was a ?cop-out?.
No wonder that he was the object of widespread mirth from the Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw and almost the whole House of Commons when, challenged after some time speaking, to state his confused and contradictory position clearly, he announced with memorable bathos: ?I will make my position quite clear. I shall probably have to abstain.?
Once again, by not speaking out with a clear voice, our MP has badly let us down in parliament.
Geoffrey Cox
Conservative Parliamentary spokesman for
Torridge and West Devon