Conference Motion
Torridge & West Devon Lib Dems make their name at
Lib Dems Spring Conference, winning debate on Iran
Tuesday 6 March 2007
Torridge & West Devon Liberal
Democrats came to the fore at the Lib Dem Spring Conference in Harrogate last
weekend winning a vital ballot when delegates voted to debate an emergency
motion on Iran
The motion, proposed to the local
party by former Parliamentary Candidate Chris Layton from Horrabridge,
highlighted the dismay and concern felt by many South West Lib Dems at growing
indications that the US is considering military action against Iran. It called
on the Government to make clear that the UK will not support such action and
work towards a diplomatic solution.
The importance of the debate was
recognised by the Lib Dems Foreign Affairs team as Mark Hunter, Shadow Foreign
Affairs spokesman, proposed the motion and Lord Garden, Lib Dems defence
spokesman in the Lords and a former assistant chief of the defence staff, spoke
in favour. Leading local Lib Dems councillor, Jane Waterhouse spoke on the
threat to the cultural heritage of the region and East Devon Lib Dems group
leader, Trevor Cope spoke of how South West troops would be involved in yet
another pointless war. Former Torridge & West Devon Parliamentary Candidate,
David Walter, summed up.
After a thoughtful and considered
debate Conference voted unanimously in favour of the motion, a result
highlighted by party leader Ming Campbell in his keynote address later that day.
Speaking before the debate David
Walter said:
“After
the disastrous foray in Iraq it is surely inconceivable that this country should
support more adventuring by the United States in the Middle East. Such action
would cause immense suffering and hardship to innocent people and further
destabilise the already delicate situation in the area.”
Trevor Cope added:
“We
went to Bosnia for 6 months and ended up staying 15 years. In Iraq we have no
exit strategy and who knows how Afghanistan will end up. Our West Country troops
are constantly being exposed to danger and equipment failure in pursuit of
unwarranted wars. Why should they be used as yet more cannon fodder?”
The full text of the motion
was:
Conference
notes with dismay the indications that the United States is considering an
attack on Iran, and the human suffering and damage to peace and security which
would result from such an attack.
Conference
urges the Government to:
1. To make clear in public that the UK will not support a US military attack on
Iran.
2. To pursue diplomatic dialogue with a view to ensuring that Iran does not
acquire nuclear weapons.
3. To work with the United States, the European Union and others towards giving
Iran adequate guarantees for its security, including serious negotiation to
implement the UN Security Council resolutions that have called for a zone free
from weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East.
4. To ensure
Iran is invited to participate in collective international efforts to bring
peace and stability to Iraq, as the Iraq Study Group proposes.
No Military Attack on Iran
Saturday 3
March 2007
Torridge and
West Devon Local Party has put forward an emergency motion for the Spring
Conference at Harrogate calling upon the UK government not to get involved in any military
intervention in Iran. The proposal to put forward this emergency motion
was made by Chris Layton at the Local Party executive meeting on Friday 23
February.
It was strongly supported by the meeting.
This motion won
the ballot today for the Emergency Motion to be debated at the conference.
The motion will be debated tomorrow morning (Sunday). The mover of this Iran
Emergency motion will be Mark Hunter MP (Cheadle, Shadow Minister for Foreign
Affairs) and the summation will be by David Walter.
The full motion
is:
Conference
notes with dismay:
a) The alarming American
military buildup threatening Iran, and the human suffering and damage to
peace and security which would result from a US attack.
Conference
urges the Government:
1. To make clear in public that
the UK will not support a US military attack on Iran.
2. To pursue diplomatic dialogue
with a view to ensuring that Iran does not acquire nuclear weapons.
3. To work with the United
States, the European Union and others towards giving Iran adequate guarantees
for its security, including serious negotiation to implement Security Council
resolutions that have called for a zone free from weapons of mass destruction in
the Middle East.
4. To ensure Iran is invited to
participate in collective international efforts to bring peace and stability to
Iraq, as the Baker report proposed.
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