Letter

16th March 2003

Dear Sir

A joint declaration today, Sunday 16th March from Russia, France and Germany states: “Nothing justifies… in the present climate … resorting to the use of force” and that everything should be done to peacefully disarm Saddam Hussein. Despite this we are on the brink of war. Tony Blair seems after all determined to go ahead without UN backing. As surveys, campaigns and public protests throughout the country have shown Tony Blair is going against the wishes of his people and, as our MP Tom Levitt backs Tony Blair the assumption must be that he also now backs an attack on Iraq without UN authority.

At a Public Meeting on Friday 14th at the United Reform Church Hall in Buxton, attended by over 100 of his constituents Tom Levitt was made aware yet again - as he has been continually reminded over the last year - that his constituents, like the rest of the country are massively against going to war. We back the UN route which has successfully to date used UN Inspectors to identify illegal weapons and has therefore been able effectively to ensure the destruction both of these weapons and of specified documents.

While we appreciate that it was brave of our MP to attend an “Anti -War” meeting, and we thank him for his participation, we are also sorry that he was not able when replying to questions to make his position clear over war without UN backing. Many present felt he was not giving a satisfactory answer to this question and that as our representative Tom Levitt should accurately reflect the wishes of the vast majority of his constituents. While the two Anti - War speakers, Mary Little field and Richard Searle eloquently and convincingly put the case for peace, diplomacy and a constructive approach to the problem Tom Levitt was unable to satisfy those present with his reasons for supporting Bush and Blair’s war. Should our government during the course of this week go to war against the wishes of the majority in Britain we feel it even more imperative that our MP now replies convincingly to our questions and can be seen to be acting as the democratic representative of his constituents. And should he claim, as some of the media are attempting to do that those against war are not supporting our armed forces in the Gulf then our response is that the safely of our troops is very important, they should not be sacrificed in an unnecessary war. Unless they are used in a peacekeeping role they should be brought back home. Tony Blair’s call for the "blood price” to be paid is morally wrong. Tom Levitt please respond.

Yours sincerely
Buxton Against the War