Just in case there was any doubt...

[richardm]

I see that Robin Cook, the leader of the House of Commons, has just resigned from the cabinet.

He said that he would do this if the country went to war without UN backing, so I assume that this means the game is up.

No sign of Claire Short leaving early yet, mind.

[BillyTK]

Cook quits over Iraq crisis (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/2857637.stm)
There is speculation that International Development Secretary Clare Short, who has already threatened to resign, may follow Mr Cook onto the back benches on Monday.

[...]

If Mr Blair goes ahead with a Commons debate on military action, MPs warn they will table an amendment stating there is no moral justification for war without a new resolution.

Second resolution withdrawn (http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,915938,00.html)
The search for a diplomatic solution to the disarmament of Iraq came to a shuddering halt today as British and American diplomats withdrew a draft resolution that would have provided UN authority for a war on Iraq.

The UK ambassador to the UN, Sir Jeremy Greenstock, blamed France for threatening to veto the resolution. It would have issued Iraq with an immediate deadline to disarm or face military action.

[...]


"The United Nations has failed to enforce its own demands that Iraq immediately disarm. As a result, the diplomatic window has been closed," White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said.

[...]

(France, Russia and Germany) stood firm in their opposition to any resolution that would authorise military action against Iraq while UN weapons inspectors continue to make progress.

The French foreign minister, Dominique de Villepin, today told a French radio station: "France cannot accept the resolution that sets an ultimatum and envisages an automatic use of force."

[Reginald]

Cook has been a misery since he lost the Foreign Office job to Straw. Its no great thing that he has gone.

Claire Short Hasnt gone yet, maybe she will maybe she wont. It will hardly be a shock if she does.

Now the Labour party (Who believe it is they who run the country) will now alll have a vote and show their disapproval at the oncoming military action.

Sorry to upset you brothers but it is the house of commons and all the MPs within that make the decisions for this country, you can hold all your little "Blair out" votes after the war , but fortunately The unions and grassroots labour party have no more say than I do, and thats one vote at the next general election.

[rikzilla]

Is Maggie Thatcher still available???

Perhaps Blair can coax her out of retirement??

[kourama]

Supreme executive power comes from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical terrorist ceremony!

I mean, if I went around trying to bomb arab nations, just because some warmongering git offered cheap oil to me, they'd put me away!

[Martin]

Originally posted by Reginald
Cook has been a misery since he lost the Foreign Office job to Straw. Its no great thing that he has gone

Especially given that his resignation probably has quite a bit to do with that debacle over the reformation of the House of Lords.

[richardm]

Originally posted by rikzilla
Is Maggie Thatcher still available???

Perhaps Blair can coax her out of retirement??

Now, that really would produce a huge protest movement...

[OBgac]

Originally posted by rikzilla
Is Maggie Thatcher still available???

Perhaps Blair can coax her out of retirement??

That particular Weapon of Mass Destruction should stay retired ;)

[BillyTK]

Tony Blair is physically metamorphing into Margaret Thatcher... expect him to start wearing blonde streaks any day now...

Originally posted by rikzilla
Is Maggie Thatcher still available???



Do you have any idea how loathed that woman is?

As for Clare Short - STUPID COW. No credibility left whatsoever. Reminds me of an ex-girlfriend who had the habit of saying "That was our exit", 10 seconds after I had driven past the junction at which I was supposed to be leaving the motorway.

[Jocko]

Originally posted by UndercoverElephant


Do you have any idea how loathed that woman is?

As for Clare Short - STUPID COW. No credibility left whatsoever. Reminds me of an ex-girlfriend who had the habit of saying "That was our exit", 10 seconds after I had driven past the junction at which I was supposed to be leaving the motorway.

Stupid cow? You're the one who missed the exit, and moreover, counted on someone like that to tell you where to get off.

[rikzilla]

Originally posted by UndercoverElephant


Do you have any idea how loathed that woman is?

As for Clare Short - STUPID COW. No credibility left whatsoever. Reminds me of an ex-girlfriend who had the habit of saying "That was our exit", 10 seconds after I had driven past the junction at which I was supposed to be leaving the motorway.

Damn!

You Brits must hate all your politicians! How do these guys get elected anyhow??? I mean...if they're all so uniformly hated that is. :rolleyes:

[Reginald]

Originally posted by UndercoverElephant


As for Clare Short - STUPID COW. No credibility left whatsoever. Reminds me of an ex-girlfriend who had the habit of saying "That was our exit", 10 seconds after I had driven past the junction at which I was supposed to be leaving the motorway.

LOL Clare Short who was the hero of the left.......right up untill this morning.

Terrible when someone like her starts seeing some sense isnt it?

:D

Originally posted by Jocko


Stupid cow? You're the one who missed the exit, and moreover, counted on someone like that to tell you where to get off.

Erm.....this particular stupid cow announced herself which exit she would be getting off at. I don't know if this is sexist but I simply cannot imagine a male MP making an emotional outburst like she did 8 days ago, clearly stating she would resign if there was a war with no 2nd resolution, and then change her mind. Is that sexist?

[richardm]

Personally, I quite like it when politicians prove able to change their minds when convincing arguments are placed before them, rather than feeling they have to do something just because they've said they're going to.


... After all, UCE, I daresay you'd be delighted if Tony Blair had changed his mind about going to war?

[rikzilla]

Originally posted by UndercoverElephant


Erm.....this particular stupid cow announced herself which exit she would be getting off at. I don't know if this is sexist but I simply cannot imagine a male MP making an emotional outburst like she did 8 days ago, clearly stating she would resign if there was a war with no 2nd resolution, and then change her mind. Is that sexist?

Geoff,

So you're a sexist now?? :D Naw...I like you. You are a man willing to stand for his principles...I can respect that. I've learned alot from reading Zen. I want to send you a book to reciprocate for the one you sent me....PM me your address. You'll like it. It's Robert Pirsig's "LILA".

I look forward to discussing with you the evidence of Iraq-Al Qaida links when they come to light after the invasion ends and the investigation of Mukhabarrat files begins.

-zilla

[Drooper]

There are excellent rational reasons for the actions of both Short and Cook.

Cook, who has been pissed off since being removed from the Foreign Office, finally had a way to make his exit from the high ground and set himself up for a cushy EU position.

Short, has "decided" to stay, because there is the prospecpt of a high profile Middle East peace and developmetn role lined up for her after the war.

[richardm]

Originally posted by richardm
Personally, I quite like it when politicians prove able to change their minds when convincing arguments are placed before them, rather than feeling they have to do something just because they've said they're going to.



NB The convincing arguments have to be there too; it's no good when they say they'll do something but have no intention of doing it, which is the normal state of affairs :D

Originally posted by richardm


NB The convincing arguments have to be there too; it's no good when they say they'll do something but have no intention of doing it, which is the normal state of affairs :D

I think Tony convinced her

a) That she would be a really useful oversees development secretary for sorting out the mess the Americans leave behind

b) That he has no choice but to take the path he has taken (read : he is on a lead, as poodles generally are).

Either way, I don't care. When somebody categorically states "If you do X then I am going to resign", and then doesn't resign when X gets done then they have traded in all trace of credibility. If she wasn't sure she should have kept her trap shut.

[alancarre]

Originally posted by UndercoverElephant

Either way, I don't care. When somebody categorically states "If you do X then I am going to resign", and then doesn't resign when X gets done then they have traded in all trace of credibility. If she wasn't sure she should have kept her trap shut.

Exactly right. She must step down and get out of politics entirely. She's no good to herself or anybody else.

- Alan