Changed lives: The politican who rebelled

Paul Marsden MP, an anti-war campaigner who recently defected from Labour to the Liberal Democrats

Special report

The shadow of terror: Three months on

As the events of 11 September unfolded and the second tower was hit, the awfulness of the situation began to dawn on me: this was not just a horrific accident, but a terrorist attack.

Later I was filled with utter dread, knowing that it was the heart of America that had been hit and that the backlash would be enormous. Of course, my thoughts were with those people killed in the terrorist attacks, but also with the thousands of innocent civilians in Afghanistan, now faced with continuous bombs being dropped upon on them. This is unacceptable.

I was one of the first people in Parliament to speak out against strikes on Afghanistan and the horrendous cycle of violence that would ensue. My view is that the UN should be democratised and that all international decisions should be made democratically through it. Thousands of innocent people should not be vapourised just because Downing Street and the White House decide that is the answer.

Tony Blair was quite dismissive of my misgivings. Before I could even address the House, I was pulled into Hilary Armstrong's office and told to shut up. I was already disillusioned with Tony Blair, his misleading of the Labour Party, the sheer hypocrisy of his rhetoric, and his utter failure to deliver on his words. My disillusionment was brought into sharp focus after 11 September and his government's subsequent handling of events. I could not remain with a party that does not tolerate freedom of speech and sensible debate.

What happened on and after 11 September has lifted my eyes from the domestic scene. There is a big world out there. I went to the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan specifically to bring some much- needed media attention to the terrible poverty and suffering of the people there. Decent people like you and me who are completely destitute.

It is the hypocrisy of Western governments and the ignorance of most people in regard to the developing world that have been brought to light by the events following 11 September. Every day, 20,000 to 30,000 children die from preventable diseases in developing countries, and we hear nothing of them.

This has pushed me to focus on global issues. I do not want to belong to a party that does nothing to make a difference to the tragedies that are occurring, not only in Europe and the USA, but all over the world.