Labour faithful voice opposition to Iraq war
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Your support makes all the difference.An Independent on Sunday survey of Labour Party chairs of ministers' constituencies shows overwhelming grassroots hostility to military action against Iraq.
Nearly all Labour Party constituency chairs and agents asked – almost half the total of those held by government ministers – said their members were completely opposed to US-led unilateral military action against Saddam Hussein. Just two said there was support for it, and three were undecided. Twenty-eight came out against.
The survey, conducted following the Prime Minister's refusal to rule out any war that did not have the backing of the United Nations when pressed in the Commons last week, showed a greater support – 29 local parties – for UN-backed action. But of those, many were extremely uncomfortable with the prospect. Three were opposed to war in any circumstances.
As yet, few members are leaving the party in protest. Just two constituency chairs reported people tearing up their membership cards, though seven said members had threatened to do so.
As the military build-up continues – despite reports that UN weapons inspectors have yet to find conclusive evidence of a weapons of mass destruction programme in Iraq – disquiet among the public, especially potentially embarrassing shows of defiance from Labour Party members, is expected to grow.
Hostility in the Labour Party to war is thought to run from top to bottom, and the misgivings of some Cabinet ministers are echoed by the people they represent.
In Foreign Secretary Jack Straw's Blackburn constituency, the mood is unsettled.
Phil Riley, the constituency secretary, said: "There is a small minority of people, of course, who would have the view that they are anti-war full stop." But he said the broad view in Blackburn was that "it has to be with UN approval and also the approval of the House of Commons".
Mr Riley said he had "no sense that Jack finds that an unacceptable position".
In Education Secretary Charles Clarke's Norwich South constituency, his agent, Peter Evans, said: "We don't wish the Government to do anything without the United Nations." Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott's Hull East constituency reported "divided and reserved" opinion on unilateral action. In Foreign Office minister Denis Macshane's Rotherham seat there was a "prevailing view against unilateral action".
Of the 33 constituencies surveyed, which are represented by ministers from a wide range of departments, opposition to unsanctioned war and the reluctance to support even UN-backed action was clear.
Additional research by: Corinne Abrams, Mark Cobley and Mark Hooson
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