KEETCH SUPPORTS ARMED FORCES BILL

2.57.48pm GMT Wed 26th Oct 2005

British Army soldiers boarding a military aircraft

Paul Keetch, MP for Hereford and member of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee spoke passionately in favour of Private Members Bill sponsored by former cabinet minister Clare Short MP.

The Armed Forces Bill backed by the Lib Dems required the Government to obtain approval of both Houses of Parliament, for the deployment of armed forces in armed conflict and/or for a declaration of war to be made.

Speaking in the Commons, Mr Keetch said,

"The mere fact that there was a vote…gave them [the armed forces] the confidence to go on and do what they did."

"Had there not been a vote, and had the Prime Minister ignored a vote that went the wrong way, the morale of our armed forces would certainly have been severely dented."

Commenting further, Mr Keetch said

"I believe legislation should be introduced and was disappointed by the result. We needed the Bill not because of what happened with Iraq, but because of what will unfortunately and inevitably happen in the future."