Previous page | Contents | Next page
3.6  |  Development of UK strategy and options, November 2002 to January 2003
456.  Mr Blair’s seventh principle identified the need to “reach out to the Muslim
world”. Mr Blair stated: “The reason there is opposition over our stance on Iraq has
less to do with any love of Saddam, but over a sense of double standards. The MEPP
remains essential …”
PRIME MINISTER’S QUESTIONS, 8 JANUARY 2003
457.  In PMQs on 8 January Mr Blair reiterated his position that if Saddam Hussein
did not disarm voluntarily he would be disarmed by force, but he declined to
speculate about the circumstances when that would be necessary.
458.  Iraq and reports of differences between Mr Straw and Mr Hoon were raised by
several Members of Parliament during Prime Minister’s Questions on 8 January.156
459.  Mr Blair consistently reiterated his position that Iraq must comply with the Security
Council resolutions and “must be disarmed of all weapons of mass destruction”. If Iraq
did not do so willingly, it would “have to be done by force”.
460.  Mr Blair declined to respond to questions from Mr Iain Duncan Smith about
whether he agreed with Mr Straw’s view that the prospects of military action were
“60:40 against”.
461.  Mr Duncan Smith also commented that “one cannot half prepare for war. Not for
the first time, the Government are sending different messages to different audiences …”
462.  Referring to Mr Hoon’s statement the previous day, Mr Blair replied:
“We have made every preparation that we should make … It is completely wrong
to say that British troops are half prepared for any action. That is nonsense.”
463.  In response to questions from Mr Charles Kennedy about whether Britain would
be involved if the inspectors failed to produce concrete evidence of weapons of mass
destruction but the US “nonetheless” decided to go ahead with military action, Mr Blair
replied that he was “not going to speculate on the circumstances that might arise”.
The weapons inspectors were “in Iraq to discover whether there has been a breach
of the UN resolution” and they should be “allowed to do their work”.
464.  Mr Blair also told:
Mrs Anne Campbell (Labour) that she was “right to say that people have
anxieties about the possibility of conflict in Iraq” and that British troops “should
never” be put into action “unless it is necessary to do so”, but he “believed
passionately that the issue of weapons of mass destruction and the related issue
of international terrorism” were the “key security threats” facing the UK and that
it was “only a matter of time before those issues come together”; and
156  House of Commons, Official Report, 8 January 2003, columns 162‑166.
83
Previous page | Contents | Next page