Scottish attempt to get Iraq debate out of Queen’s speech
-12/11/06
In a move that wi
Scottish attempt to get Iraq debate out of Queen’s speech
-12/11/06
In a move that will anger the government, but please campaigners for a change of policy on Iraq, including many in the churches, the Scottish National Party is to attempt this coming week to make an amendment to the Queen’s Speech in order to force a parliamentary vote on withdrawing troops from Iraq.
The move comes after mid-term election gains for the Democrats have forced the Bush administration to begin looking for alternatives to its current ëlock and holdí military policy on Iraq ñ and after renewed calls for troops withdrawal, including one from the American ecumenical body acting as an umbrella for churches with 50 million members.
The SNPís parliamentary teams say there is a clear and related 80-year-old precedent for their move, which needs to gain the assent of the Speaker to move forward.
In 1923 the old Liberal Party tabled an amendment to the King’s Speech, demanding an end to British operations in Mesopotamia, the former name for what is now called Iraq.
Westminster eventually demanded a withdrawal.
A fortnight ago, the Nationalists from Scotland and Wales helped force a debate and vote on an inquiry into Iraq policy. But the joint SNP and Plaid Cymru (Party of Wales) motion for a prompt investigation was defeated by 25 votes, despite support from 12 rebel Labour MPs.
The latest Queen’s Speech, to be given on Wednesday 15 November 2006, will set out, as usual, the key measures that the government hopes to implement in the coming session of Parliament.
Scottish attempt to get Iraq debate out of Queen’s speech
-12/11/06
In a move that will anger the government, but please campaigners for a change of policy on Iraq, including many in the churches, the Scottish National Party is to attempt this coming week to make an amendment to the Queen’s Speech in order to force a parliamentary vote on withdrawing troops from Iraq.
The move comes after mid-term election gains for the Democrats have forced the Bush administration to begin looking for alternatives to its current ëlock and holdí military policy on Iraq ñ and after renewed calls for troops withdrawal, including one from the American ecumenical body acting as an umbrella for churches with 50 million members.
The SNPís parliamentary teams say there is a clear and related 80-year-old precedent for their move, which needs to gain the assent of the Speaker to move forward.
In 1923 the old Liberal Party tabled an amendment to the King’s Speech, demanding an end to British operations in Mesopotamia, the former name for what is now called Iraq.
Westminster eventually demanded a withdrawal.
A fortnight ago, the Nationalists from Scotland and Wales helped force a debate and vote on an inquiry into Iraq policy. But the joint SNP and Plaid Cymru (Party of Wales) motion for a prompt investigation was defeated by 25 votes, despite support from 12 rebel Labour MPs.
The latest Queen’s Speech, to be given on Wednesday 15 November 2006, will set out, as usual, the key measures that the government hopes to implement in the coming session of Parliament.