Defence aide quits over Middle East policy
Jim Sheridan quits as PPS to the defence team over Middle East
Thursday, 10, Aug 2006 12:00
A Labour MP last night quit his post as aide to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in protest against the government's policy in the Middle East.
Jim Sheridan said he could "no longer support" the policy of calling for restraint on both sides of the conflict in Lebanon while allowing US planes carrying arms to Israel to refuel in UK airports.
There have been a series of demonstrations outside Glasgow's Prestwick airport in protest against the flights, although reports suggest that following an intervention by the Foreign Office, the US has agreed not to use civilian airports to refuel.
In a letter to Tony Blair yesterday, Mr Sheridan – whose position as parliamentary private secretary to the defence team is one below a junior minister – also raised concerns about the prime minister's close relationship with the US.
"I can no longer support the government's position of calling for restraint on both sides of the current conflict in Lebanon while facilitating the refuelling of aircraft in our country carrying real weapons of mass destruction, as seen on our television screens," he said.
"I do not expect my resignation to have any significant impact on your objectives for the Middle East which I genuinely believe to be honourable on your part but which do not reflect, in my view, the core values of the Labour party or of the country."
His resignation came after about 140 MPs signed a letter calling for the House of Commons speaker to recall parliament to allow them to debate the ongoing hostilities between Hizbullah and the Israeli army.
A large proportion of these are Labour MPs, and all the Liberal Democrats have signed. The Conservative leadership is thought to oppose an immediate recall when most MPs and ministers are on holiday, but some backbenchers have expressed support.
In his letter, Mr Sheridan noted that despite Mr Blair's confidence of getting a US resolution on Lebanon soon, "the possibility of a ceasefire seems as far away as ever while innocent civilians on both sides are being killed or maimed".
"While recognising all your efforts on this matter there seems little public evidence that the Americans are serious about an early end to this conflict and therefore, by association, neither are we," he added.
"It is on that basis that I can no longer support our government's close relationship with America and their objectives for the Middle East."