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Blair under attack on Iraq debate Quit Iraq by October - Lib Dems
(about 1 hour later)
Tony Blair is being urged to lead a Commons debate on Iraq later instead of meeting business leaders. British forces should begin a "staged withdrawal" from Iraq in May, with the last forces leaving by the end of October, the Liberal Democrats say.
The prime minister is due to address a CBI conference, but left-wing Labour MP John McDonnell said it was "shocking negation of his responsibilities." Leader Sir Menzies Campbell said ministers should now spend three months consulting coalition and regional allies over precise details.
The Lib Dem leader has written asking Mr Blair to attend while the Tories also said he should lead the debate. He is the first main UK party leader to suggest a definite withdrawal date.
Meanwhile, Sir Menzies Campbell has also called for all British troops to be withdrawn from Iraq by October. His call came as Tony Blair faced criticism for deciding not to lead a debate on Iraq on Wednesday.
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that ministers should spend the next three months consulting allies before beginning a "staged withdrawal" in May. Instead Mr Blair will be giving a speech on public services to a meeting of business leaders.
It is the first time any of the main political parties has proposed a definite date for a pull out. Basra date
Earlier, Sir Menzies said the prime minister had a "public duty" to lead the Commons debate on Iraq - which Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett is expected to do instead. Sir Menzies, whose party is the third largest in the UK parliament and opposed the war in 2003, said: "I think we should spend the next three months discussing with regional allies and with coalition allies what we propose to do.
In his letter to Mr Blair, he wrote: "Would it not be appropriate if you yourself were to open that debate on behalf of the government?" "But between 1 May and the end of October we should conduct a staged withdrawal of United Kingdom forces.
'Issue of gravity' He should now be in the House to reassure Parliament and the country that the government understands the gravity of situation William Hague, Conservatives
"In May the three provinces, according to the government, will be handed back to the Iraqis - Basra can be handed back sometime between May and July, we can hand over the transport route between Kuwait and Baghdad which we presently protect for the United States.
"We can withdraw the RAF aircraft that are operating out of Qatar and by October we should be able to bring all of our British forces back."
The prime minister is due to address a CBI conference, but left-wing Labour MP John McDonnell said it was a "shocking negation of his responsibilities" to miss a Commons debate on Iraq.
Sir Menzies, has written asking Mr Blair to attend, while the Tories also said he should lead the debate.
Downing Street has said it is not the prime minister's practice to attend such events.
Sir Menzies said Mr Blair had a "public duty" to lead the debate. Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett is expected to do so instead when the debate begins at about 1240 GMT.
'Entitled'
Sir Menzies said it was nearly four years since Mr Blair had last opened a debate on Iraq, since when 130 British servicemen and women had died and, according to UN estimates, 34,000 Iraqis had been killed in 2006 alone.Sir Menzies said it was nearly four years since Mr Blair had last opened a debate on Iraq, since when 130 British servicemen and women had died and, according to UN estimates, 34,000 Iraqis had been killed in 2006 alone.
"In these circumstances the British people are entitled to hear your analysis and strategy for withdrawal," he wrote."In these circumstances the British people are entitled to hear your analysis and strategy for withdrawal," he wrote.
"I consider that on an issue of such gravity the public are entitled to hear the party leaders.""I consider that on an issue of such gravity the public are entitled to hear the party leaders."
He cannot find time to attend a debate in the House of Commons about a policy that is undermining his legacy John McDonnell Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague said: "He [Mr Blair] was in the House to lead us to war.
"He should now be in the House to reassure Parliament and the country that the government understands the gravity of situation in Iraq and has a clear strategy for making Iraq safe and stable."
The government agreed to allow the debate on Iraq and the wider Middle East under a technical procedure known as an adjournment debate.
As no substantive motion will be put, MPs will not have a chance to vote for a change in policy.
Protest
However, opponents of the war may choose to make a symbolic protest at the end of the debate by voting against the Commons adjourning for the evening.
The Stop The War Coalition will stage a protest outside the Commons.
In October, the government saw off a cross-party bid by MPs to force an immediate inquiry to be held into the Iraq war.In October, the government saw off a cross-party bid by MPs to force an immediate inquiry to be held into the Iraq war.
But Mr Blair has said he has not ruled out holding one in the future.But Mr Blair has said he has not ruled out holding one in the future.
He has sidestepped growing calls for a full Commons debate on Iraq, saying he was happy to talk about it "at any time". He has sidestepped growing calls for a full Commons debate on Iraq, saying he is happy to talk about it "at any time".
The Stop The War Coalition will stage a protest outside the Commons to mark the debate on Wednesday afternoon.
Mr McDonnell, who has said he will run for Labour leader when Mr Blair steps down this year, said the prime minister should attend.
"He cannot find time to attend a debate in the House of Commons about a policy that is undermining his legacy, preferring to speak to big business. It is a shocking negation of his responsibilities."
And Mr Hague said Mr Blair should be leading the debate.
"He was in the House to lead us to war," he said.
"He should now be in the House to reassure Parliament and the country that the government understands the gravity of situation in Iraq and has a clear strategy for making Iraq safe and stable."