Iraq and the Scottish Parliament

Several motions on Iraq have been submitted at the Scottish Parliament. Please urge your MSP to support them so that they will be debated. MSPs email addresses are available from the Scottish Parliament website.

S1M-3364 Nora Radcliffe: Iraq—That the Parliament notes with concern the current situation in Iraq; acknowledges that there is, as yet, no firm evidence that military intervention in Iraq at this stage would have the support of the British public; believes that any military action in Iraq should not take place without a debate in the House of Commons followed by a substantive vote by MPs; further believes that the first priority of Her Majesty's Government must be to ensure the return of the United Nations (UN) weapons inspectors under UN auspices; considers that any further steps in relation to Iraq must be consistent with the rule of international law, and urges the Prime Minister to recall the UK Parliament as soon as he returns from the Camp David summit with President Bush, so that the international situation can be discussed in detail.

S1M-3348# Dennis Canavan: Opposition to Invasion of Iraq—That the Parliament is opposed to the invasion of Iraq by USA forces and believes that the Prime Minister should try to dissuade President Bush from such action, which would do incalculable damage to the cause of peace in the Middle East and would almost certainly destroy the lives of many innocent Iraqi people who are victims of the oppressive regime of Saddam Hussein.

Supported by: Ms Margo MacDonald, Elaine Smith, Robin Harper, Mr John McAllion, Fiona McLeod, Donald Gorrie, Mr Adam Ingram

S1M-3347# Bill Butler: Iraq—That the Parliament believes that a war against Iraq would result in an enormous loss of innocent lives and could provoke a wider war in the Middle East; is of the view that public opinion, both at home and abroad, is overwhelmingly against such a war, and believes that the Scottish Executive should make representations to the Prime Minister to urge him to dissociate himself and Her Majesty’s Government from military action against Iraq, which is not sanctioned by the United Nations Security Council.

Supported by: Fiona Hyslop, Elaine Smith, Donald Gorrie

S1M-3333 Mr John Swinney: Iraq—That the Parliament believes that any international offensive military action against Iraq can only be morally justified if it carries a new and specific mandate from the United Nations Security Council and further believes that any decision to take military action by Her Majesty’s Government must be subject to parliamentary debate and vote by the Westminster Parliament.

Supported by: Roseanna Cunningham, Colin Campbell, Fiona Hyslop, Fiona McLeod, Nicola Sturgeon, Mrs Margaret Ewing, Irene McGugan, Tricia Marwick, Bruce Crawford, Christine Grahame, Mr Kenny MacAskill, Alasdair Morgan, Richard Lochhead, Linda Fabiani, Michael Russell, Brian Adam, Ms Sandra White, Kay Ullrich, Mr Kenneth Gibson, Shona Robison, Alex Neil, Mr Andrew Welsh, Mr George Reid, Fergus Ewing, Donald Gorrie

S1M-3304 Tommy Sheridan: UK Position on Iraq—That the Parliament notes the continued threats by President George W Bush and the USA to affect a "regime change" in Iraq by any means necessary; condemns the USA’s bully-boy tactics and its international sabre-rattling, which does nothing to build greater unity, peace and harmony throughout our diverse world; believes that the USA is increasingly isolated in its war-mongering intentions to invade Iraq despite opposition from across Europe and even from within the United Nations; calls on Her Majesty’s Government to issue a clear statement of opposition to involvement in any attack on Iraq in the interests of promoting greater world peace and harmony, and further believes that, should Her Majesty’s Government commit any support, physically or financially, to an American-led attack on Iraq, a special debate should be arranged immediately in the Parliament.

Supported by: Elaine Smith