Bruce Questions PM on Interventionist Foreign Policy

5.28.55pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 18th Jun 2007

Malcolm Bruce questioned the Government over the current Gaza crisis

Aberdeenshire MP Malcolm Bruce took the Government to task in the House of Commons today over Afghanistan and the Middle East when he had the opportunity to ask the Prime Minister as well as the Defence Secretary and a Foreign Office Minister pressing questions about Britain's' foreign policy in these volatile regions.

Questioning the Prime Minister in the Liaison Committee this morning (Monday), the Gordon MP said:

"On Iraq and Afghanistan as circumstances change on the ground the Prime Minister redefines his objectives. Initially we invaded Iraq to remove weapons of mass destruction and then to remove Saddam Hussein and create democracy.

"In Afghanistan the objective was to remove the Taliban and create security for reconstruction and development. Now it is to fight an escalating war.

"On Palestine, the Prime Minister understandably concentrates on the extremism of Hamas but fails to acknowledge that was known when they stood and won free and fair elections. Not engaging them at all and cutting off funds to the Palestinian Authority has aggravated hardship and encouraged extremism."

This afternoon, Mr. Bruce took up the issue of Afghanistan again with the Defence Secretary Des Browne in the House of Commons asking about the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan following an influential International Red Cross report. He asked:

"In the light of escalating violence and the displacement of civilians what will be done to give more support for our troops more commitment from our allies and more step to win the hearts and minds of ordinary Afghans by securing reconstruction and development?"

Finally, during an Urgent Question to the House of Commons on the situation in the Gaza Strip, Mr. Bruce then asked Foreign Office minister Kim Howells about the deteriorating situation in the Gaza Strip and the role of the UK Government as part of the International Community in recognising and attempting to engage with the democratically elected Government in the Palestinian Occupied Territories.

Mr. Bruce said:

"There can be no justification for what Hamas have done or the way they have done it nor does it further the Palestinian cause. Nevertheless, the International Development Committee stated in January that isolating the PA would drive them to Iran and more extremes. However much we dislike them it is unlikely they will disappear or we can refuse to talk to them."