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<table width="100%" height="100%" border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary=""> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="left" valign="bottom"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary=""><tr><td background="../graphics/180601_pages/pat.jpg"><img src="../graphics/180601_pages/top.jpg" width="760" height="54" alt="MP for Exeter" usemap="#Map" border="0"></td></tr></table> <map name="Map"> <area shape="rect" coords="38,21,223,37" href="../biog/" alt="Biography" title="Biography" target="_parent"> </map> </td> </tr> <tr><td align="right" valign="top"> <table summary="" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td width="150" height="341" background="../graphics/buttons/bottom.jpg" valign="top"> <table summary="" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td> <a href="/" target="_parent"><img src="../graphics/buttons/home.gif" alt="Home" width="150" height="34" border="0"></a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a href="../exeter_labour/index/" target="_parent"><img name="Image6" border="0" src="../graphics/buttons/party.gif" width="150" height="23" alt="Exeter Labour Party"></a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a href="/" target="_parent"><img name="Image7" border="0" src="../graphics/buttons/speeches.gif" width="150" height="23" alt="Speeches"></a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a href="../column/" target="_parent"><img border="0" src="../graphics/buttons/column.gif" width="150" height="24" alt="Ben's Column"></a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a href="../faqs/" target="_parent"><img border="0" src="../graphics/buttons/faqs.gif" width="150" height="23" alt="FAQs"></a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a href="/" target="_parent"><img border="0" src="../graphics/buttons/local.gif" width="150" height="23" alt="Local Information"></a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a href="/" target="_parent"><img border="0" src="../graphics/buttons/newsletter.gif" width="150" height="23" alt="Newsletter"></a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a href="/" target="_parent"><img src="../graphics/buttons/links.gif" width="150" height="23" border="0" alt="Links"></a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a href="../contact/contact/" target="_parent"><img src="../graphics/buttons/contact.gif" width="150" height="23" alt="Contact" border="0"></a> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table> </td> <td align="left" valign="top"> <title>Welcome to Ben Bradshaws Website</title> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <body bgcolor="#FFFFFF" leftmargin="0" topmargin="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" link="#CC0000" vlink="#CC0000" alink="#660000"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.legendsofgaming.co.uk/" style="padding: 5px 10px;">Betting Sites Not On Gamstop Uk</a></div> <table width="90%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary=""> <tr> <td> <a name="top"></a> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="10" summary=""> <tr> <td> <p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Select from the questions below to jump to the answers.</font></p> <p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><a href="#1">1. How do we manage to protect our civil liberties on one hand while at</a> </b></font></p> <p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><a href="#2">2. What is being done to reduce global poverty?</a> </b></font></p> <p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><a href="#3">3. What is being done to fight crime in Exeter?</a> </b></font></p> <p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><a href="#4">4. What is being done to get pensioners out of poverty?</a> </b></font></p> <p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><a href="#5">5. What are your responsibilities as my MP?</a> </b></font></p> <p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><a href="#6">6. What can you do to help me?</a> </b></font></p> <p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><a href="#7">7. How do I make an appointment to see you?</a> </b></font></p> <p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><a href="#8">8. How do I check if you are my MP?</a> </b></font></p> <p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><a href="#9">9. How do I book a tour of Westminster?</a> </b></font></p> <p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><a href="#10">10. Where can I find out more information about Parliament?</a> </b></font></p> <p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><a href="#11">11. What is being done to tackle anti-social behaviour in our neighbourhood?</a> </b></font></p> <p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><a href="#12">12. Do you support the introduction of ID cards?</a> </b></font></p> <p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><a href="#13">13. What is being done to prevent an outbreak of the bird flu in Britain?</a> </b></font></p> <p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><a href="#14">14. How do you deal with constituents� problems?</a> </b></font></p> <p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><a href="#15">15. What is being done to help tackling the problem of global climate change?</a> </b></font></p> <p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><a href="#16">16. How do you justify your government�s action in Iraq ?</a> </b></font></p> </td> </tr> <tr><td><hr width="100%" size="1" noshade color="#CC0000"> </td></tr> <tr> <td><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><a name="1"></a>1. How do we manage to protect our civil liberties on one hand while at</b></font></td> </tr> <tr> <td><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">As the events of July 7th tragically showed anti-terrorist legislation is necessary. The debate around July 7th has focused on whether the police and security services could have acted sooner; at the same time the police have been accused of over-reacting during the raid on a house in Forest Hill. This is a very difficult area. I think it is important people engage in the debate about what anti-terrorist legislation is necessary. What should the police do to stop a suicide bomber? How should we deal non-UK citizens who we are unable to deport but who are engaged in terrorist action abroad? I think the government has got the balance between security and liberty about right; I accept others disagree. But would it not be better if we could acknowledge that getting the balance right is extraordinarily difficult? It is, literally, a life and death issue.<br> <br> </font> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><a href="#top"><img src="../graphics/180601_pages/back_top.gif" alt="Back to Top" width="100" height="27" border="0"></a></font></td> </tr> <tr> <td><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><a name="2"></a>2. What is being done to reduce global poverty?</b></font></td> </tr> <tr> <td><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Reducing global poverty is very important and something I feel very strongly about. Tackling poverty worldwide is possibly the greatest moral challenge facing our generation. We not only have a moral obligation to do this, but it is also in the UK�s interest to do so. Poverty is something that exacerbates many of the problems that face us, such as war and conflict, international crime, and the spread of health pandemics such as HIV/AIDS.<br> <br> Since coming to office in 1997 we have almost doubled the international aid budget and are committed to meeting the UN target of spending 0.7% of Gross National Product (GNP) on overseas aid by 2013 at the latest. In early 2004, the Prime Minister set up the Commission for Africa and we have successfully written off the debt of the most heavily indebted poor countries. <br> <br> With the publication of the government�s third White Paper on international development Making Governance Work for the Poor, Britain is committed to spending 50% of its bilateral funds on four essential public services � education; health; water and sanitation.The Department for International Development has signed ten-year education plans and Development Partnership Arrangements with Mozambique, Ghana, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Vietnam to help increase our global support to education to �8.5 billion.<br> <br> We have led international action to wipe out debt for the poorest nations - relieving �70 billion worth of debt so far - with the UK providing 100% bilateral debt relief for the world�s poorest countries. We have also introduced the International Development Act which stipulates that British aid must be used for the reduction of poverty. The Government�s resources are now targeted on supporting the internationally agreed UN Millennium Development Goals. As promised, 90% of our bilateral aid has been focused on the poorest countries in the world, including the bilateral country and regional programmes in Africa carried out by the Department for International Development which have now exceeded �1 billion for the first time in 2006/2007.<br> <br> International collaboration is vital � as well as taking a lead domestically, we have also sought to secure international agreement. At the recent G8 summit in Germany, leaders vowed to deliver on these pledges to Africa and agreed a �30 billion package for fighting AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. The UK is meeting our obligations and it is vital other countries do. I welcome the recent announcement from the German government that Germany is aware of its responsibilities towards providing aid for African countries and will honour its commitment. <br> <br> There is more information on the DFID website at www.dfid.gov.uk.<br> </font> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><a href="#top"><img src="../graphics/180601_pages/back_top.gif" alt="Back to Top" width="100" height="27" border="0"></a></font></td> </tr> <tr> <td><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><a name="3"></a>3. What is being done to fight crime in Exeter?</b></font></td> </tr> <tr> <td><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Crime has actually fallen by more than 25% in Devon since Labour came to office in 1997. The chances of being a victim of crime are at a 20 year low. Labour has increased police resources to fund an expansion of police numbers. There are more police officers than ever working in Devon and Cornwall.<br> <br> As a result of that Exeter is annually witnessing a reduction in many key areas of crime. Forgery and fraud offences were further reduced by 12.2% last year. Handling was reduced by 12.5%, common assault by 7.4% and drugs offences by 11.2% between April 2006 and March 2007. Exeter, with the Devon and Cornwall Constabulary, remains a safe place to live. The crime rate is the 7th lowest nationally.<br> <br> Not only has Labour improved the police force and the fighting of crime on the spot. We have furthermore brought in longer sentences for persistent offenders and reformed the probation service to reduce re-offending. <br> <br> However, I think we need to do more to tackle some of the underlying problems � for example most violent crime is linked to excess alcohol. We need to do more to tackle the binge drinking culture. Also, more treatment centres are needed for drug addicts to get people off drugs.<br> </font> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><a href="#top"><img src="../graphics/180601_pages/back_top.gif" alt="Back to Top" width="100" height="27" border="0"></a></font></td> </tr> <tr> <td><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><a name="4"></a>4. What is being done to get pensioners out of poverty?</b></font></td> </tr> <tr> <td><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">All pensioners are better off thanks to the policies introduced by this Government. The basic state pension was increased in 2007 to �87.30 a week for single pensioners and to �139.60 a week for pensioner couples � and the Government is committed to increasing the pension by 2.5% or inflation, whichever is higher, for the lifetime of this Parliament. In addition, pensioners benefit from the Winter Fuel Payment, free eye tests and free TV licenses for the over 80s. The Government is spending around �6 billion extra, in real terms, on pensioners as a result of policies introduced since 1997. This will ensure that the poorest third of pensioners receive an additional �2.5 billion - three times more than an earnings link in the basic state pension would have provided. <br> <br> I do not believe in any just society it is acceptable for pensioners to live in poverty and it is right that the Government has targeted extra assistance to those who have the least: the Minimum Income Guarantee means that no pensioner has to live off less that �119.05 a month and no pensioner couple off less that �181.70. For the life time of this Parliament the Minimum Income Guarantee will rise in line with earnings. It is unfair though to penalise people who have saved for their retirement and that is why the Government launched the Pension Credit targeted at those pensioners who have saved for their retirement or who have modest occupational pensions. Around half of all pensioner households will benefit.<br> </font> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><a href="#top"><img src="../graphics/180601_pages/back_top.gif" alt="Back to Top" width="100" height="27" border="0"></a></font></td> </tr> <tr> <td><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><a name="5"></a>5. What are your responsibilities as my MP?</b></font></td> </tr> <tr> <td><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">My role as an MP is to represent all the people in my constituency; not just those who voted for me. Whether or not you voted for me or agree with the views of my party, I am your MP and I am still here to help you with all matters for which Parliament or central government is responsible.<br> <br> I generally do everything I can to help constituents, but am not able to support every cause, nor will I be able to get the desired solution to every individual problem. <br> <br> There is a Parliamentary convention which states that MPs can only deal with their own constituents. </font> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><a href="#top"><img src="../graphics/180601_pages/back_top.gif" alt="Back to Top" width="100" height="27" border="0"></a></font></td> </tr> <tr> <td><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><a name="6"></a>6. What can you do to help me?</b></font></td> </tr> <tr> <td><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Problems sometimes arise with work carried out by central government departments. I will be able to help you with many of these problems including areas such as:<br> <br> - Tax problems involving the Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise Departments.<br> <br> - Problems related to the Department of Health involving hospitals and other NHS services.<br> <br> - Problems related to the Department for Work and Pensions such as benefits, pensions and national insurance.<br> <br> - Problems related to the Home Office such as immigration, asylum, prisons and policing.<br> <br> Constituents often bring a problem to me because they do not know who else could help them and I try my best to help them. However, if your problem really concerns Exeter City Council or <a href="http://www.devon.gov.uk/">Devon County Council</a>, rather than central government, then you should contact your local councillor. <br> </font> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><a href="#top"><img src="../graphics/180601_pages/back_top.gif" alt="Back to Top" width="100" height="27" border="0"></a></font></td> </tr> <tr> <td><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><a name="7"></a>7. How do I make an appointment to see you?</b></font></td> </tr> <tr> <td><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">If you have a personal problem that you would like me to help with, please contact my constituency office on 01392 424 464 or use the contact page on this website to e-mail me.<br> <br> Strict parliamentary rules mean that I can only see people who live in my constituency. </font> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><a href="#top"><img src="../graphics/180601_pages/back_top.gif" alt="Back to Top" width="100" height="27" border="0"></a></font></td> </tr> <tr> <td><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><a name="8"></a>8. How do I check if you are my MP?</b></font></td> </tr> <tr> <td><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">To check that you are in my constituency, visit the<br> Constituency Locata website.<a></a><br> </font> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><a href="#top"><img src="../graphics/180601_pages/back_top.gif" alt="Back to Top" width="100" height="27" border="0"></a></font></td> </tr> <tr> <td><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><a name="9"></a>9. How do I book a tour of Westminster?</b></font></td> </tr> <tr> <td><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">If you would like to book a tour of Westminster, you should contact my Westminster office on 020 7219 6597, or e-mail <a href="mailto:bradshawb@parliament.uk">bradshawb@parliament.uk</a><a><br> <br> There is more information about Houses of Parliament tours including maps, times and address details on the Parliament website.</a><a></a></font> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><a href="#top"><img src="../graphics/180601_pages/back_top.gif" alt="Back to Top" width="100" height="27" border="0"></a></font></td> </tr> <tr> <td><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><a name="10"></a>10. Where can I find out more information about Parliament?</b></font></td> </tr> <tr> <td><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">The House of Commons Information Office<br> <br> You can also contact the Information Office by phone 020 7219 4272 or email <a href="mailto:hcinfo@parliament.uk">hcinfo@parliament.uk</a><a></a></font> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><a href="#top"><img src="../graphics/180601_pages/back_top.gif" alt="Back to Top" width="100" height="27" border="0"></a></font></td> </tr> <tr> <td><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><a name="11"></a>11. What is being done to tackle anti-social behaviour in our neighbourhood?</b></font></td> </tr> <tr> <td><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">On anti social behaviour, this government legislated to give police extra powers to tackle anti social behaviour. The measures were opposed by the Liberal Democrats but the police in Exeter have told me they welcome the extra powers and they have been useful in cracking down on trouble makers. <br> <br> The government has recently introduced a Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act, aimed at improving the local environment that directly affects people�s quality of life. We have already banned the sale of spray paints to the under 16s to tackle the problem of unwanted graffiti and introduced �75 fixed penalty notices for minor offences of graffiti. Furthermore local authorities are given additional powers to tackle the problems caused by nuisance neighbours. They have greater flexibility in dealing with burglar alarms and impose fixed penalty fines on licensed premises that ignore warnings to reduce excessive noise level. The Clean Neighbourhood Act also gives local authorities the power to remove abandoned cars from the streets immediately and to recover the costs. <br> </font> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><a href="#top"><img src="../graphics/180601_pages/back_top.gif" alt="Back to Top" width="100" height="27" border="0"></a></font></td> </tr> <tr> <td><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><a name="12"></a>12. Do you support the introduction of ID cards?</b></font></td> </tr> <tr> <td><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">I don�t, in principle, object to ID cards. Many European countries have ID cards; I don�t think the civil liberties of the Spanish, Italians or Germans are under threat because they have ID cards. The police and security services say they will help combat terrorism, the banking industry says they will help combat fraud and the British Medical Association say they will help stop the NHS being abused. <br> <br> Whether or not ID cards are introduced, biometric identification will become the norm rather than the exception in the next few years. The need to develop biometric technology also has an impact on the total cost of the project. About 70% of the money spent developing ID cards is have to be spent producing biometric passports. The ID card would hold only basic information, not build a profile. Information held will be fixed by Parliament and restricted to information required to establish identity; it will certainly not hold information like medical or tax records. There will be strengthened oversight by a single commissioner to ensure information is not abused.<br> </font> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><a href="#top"><img src="../graphics/180601_pages/back_top.gif" alt="Back to Top" width="100" height="27" border="0"></a></font></td> </tr> <tr> <td><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><a name="13"></a>13. What is being done to prevent an outbreak of the bird flu in Britain?</b></font></td> </tr> <tr> <td><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">The government is strongly committed to prevent a possible outbreak of avian influenza in the UK. Despite the current assessment of a pandemic risk being low controls on imported birds have been tightened, quarantine regulations are under review and special surveillance of migratory wild-birds is undertaken. Furthermore the Government is working closely together with the British poultry industry and the NFU (National Farmer�s Union) in order to minimize the risk of the disease entering the UK. <br> <br> However, the help of the British public in preventing the spread of the virus is vital. Unusual die-offs (unusually high number of dead wild birds) should be reported to the DEFRA Helpline (08459 33 55 77). Especially all people that keep poultry and other domestic birds are encouraged to remain vigilant for signs of the disease and as well as maintain a high level of biosecurity. For this purpose DEFRA is providing special guidance and advice. In the event of an avian influenza virus entering the country the Government will be taking every step to ensure that any outbreak in poultry would be quickly recognised, contained and eradicated. <br> <br> I must underline that avian influenza is essentially a disease of birds and poultry. A risk to human health only occurs in case of very close contact with infected birds. The World Health Organisation and the British Food Standards Agency have both confirmed that properly cooked poultry products present absolutely no risk to human health.</font> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><a href="#top"><img src="../graphics/180601_pages/back_top.gif" alt="Back to Top" width="100" height="27" border="0"></a></font></td> </tr> <tr> <td><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><a name="14"></a>14. How do you deal with constituents� problems?</b></font></td> </tr> <tr> <td><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">When your problem involves central government, I have a number of methods available to try to resolve the matter. A letter from me to the relevant department or official will often provide a solution. If not, I may decide to take matters a stage further by writing to the Minister involved, or even making an appointment to see the Minister personally. Many constituents� problems can be resolved in this way but not all problems, of course, have an easy solution. The Minister may not be able to give the answer that you wanted to hear but if the decision has been made in the right way, there may be little that can be done.<br> <br> If, on the other hand, there has been unnecessary delay, or if some essential procedure has been missed out, i.e. if there has been maladministration, I may be able to take your case to the Ombudsman (Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration). The Ombudsman can only be approached via an MP - a constituent cannot appeal to her directly. The Health Service Commissioner can provide similar help where the problem involves the NHS. <br> <br> The Government�s attention can be drawn to a matter by what is called an Early Day Motion. Although EDMs are not usually debated, it is a record of MPs� opinion on a subject and a gauge of their support. As a minister I cannot sign an EDM, but am always happy to take up issues with ministerial colleagues. To find out about current EDMs, see the EDM database website.</font> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><a href="#top"><img src="../graphics/180601_pages/back_top.gif" alt="Back to Top" width="100" height="27" border="0"></a></font></td> </tr> <tr> <td><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><a name="15"></a>15. What is being done to help tackling the problem of global climate change?</b></font></td> </tr> <tr> <td><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">I completely agree with you about the importance of tackling climate change � nationally and internationally it is one of the biggest challenges we face. As you may know the Prime Minister made climate change, along with tackling poverty in Africa, the priorities for the UK presidency of the G8. <br> <br> In the UK emissions of greenhouses gases have fallen every year since 1997. The government has set a tough target of emissions of greenhouse gases in 2010 being 20% below 1990 levels. We�ve increased the amount of renewable energy we use and by 2020 want 20% of energy to come from renewable sources. Through initiatives like the Carbon Trust we�re also helping businesses to address their energy use and encourage low-carbon innovation which is expected to save almost 8 million tons of carbon from business by 2010 (more than 10% of their emissions in 2000). <br> Car fuel efficiency has improved since 1997 and we�ve reformed the tax system to make clean, low carbon fuel more appealing. We�ve also changed the law on company cars so there is an incentive to have fuel efficient cars rather than big inefficient vehicles. <br> Although more people than ever are using public transport, the number of people using trains is up, the number of people using buses in Exeter has also increased. But still there remains a lot to do.<br> </font> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><a href="#top"><img src="../graphics/180601_pages/back_top.gif" alt="Back to Top" width="100" height="27" border="0"></a></font></td> </tr> <tr> <td><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><a name="16"></a>16. How do you justify your government�s action in Iraq ?</b></font></td> </tr> <tr> <td><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">I know that some people felt unhappy about the decision to take action against Saddam�s regime. My own view was that it was justified because of Saddam�s repeated flouting of a series of mandatory United Nations resolutions. If we hadn�t taken the action Saddam would still be in power. What I think is important now is that we support the Iraqi people in their efforts to build a free, democratic and stable Iraq.<br> <br> On your point about our relationship with the United States: where we disagree with the US we say so. We have on a whole range of issues including trade, climate change, the International Criminal Court and the death penalty. But we share the US concern about the threat from global terrorism and the proliferation of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons. Sometimes it is a judgement as to whether one has more influence on American policy by quiet diplomacy or public criticism. My view is that we have achieved much more, for example persuading the US that it has to seriously engaged in the Middle East peace process, through quiet diplomacy than, for example France has, by being more publicly critical. <br> </font> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><a href="#top"><img src="../graphics/180601_pages/back_top.gif" alt="Back to Top" width="100" height="27" border="0"></a></font></td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table> </body></td></tr></table>