Shame of Manchester Labour MPs' Silence on Iraq

12.00.00am GMT Fri 3rd Nov 2006

Liberal Democrat MP for Manchester Withington, John Leech, has slammed Manchester's Labour MPs after 3 out of 4 of them failed to turn up to a critical Parliamentary vote asking for an inquiry into the Iraq war.

By a narrow margin, the government defeated the motion calling for a high powered committee to be set up to look into the decision to go to war.

Speaking after the vote, John Leech MP said:

"The Labour Government's illegal decision to go to war in Iraq continues to have a massive impact on security, the armed forces, the people of Iraq and the stability of the whole middle east."

"The British people deserve a full inquiry into how the Government came to lead our country down this disastrous path. Their refusal to allow an inquiry shows the utter contempt that they feel for the British public."

"I am appalled that 3 out of 4 of Manchester's Labour MPs did not feel it was important enough to turn up to vote on such an crucial issue. This betrayal is worth remembering next time Manchester Labour Party claim to have campaigned against war in Iraq."

On Tuesday 31st October, in the first debate on Iraq for more than two years, the proposals were defeated by 298 votes to 273. Along with other Liberal Democrat MPs, John Leech MP voted for an investigation by seven Privy Council members into the lead-up to war and its aftermath.

Manchester Labour MPs Graham Stringer, Tony Lloyd and Sir Gerald Kaufman did not vote.