An appeal to members - our right to expect a parliament committed to the UN

An election is approaching and MPs and candidates for election are in their best listening mode. Now is the time for all of us to do the most practical thing that we can do to assist the reform of the United Nations.

What the UN needs above all else is the genuine commitment of its members to its aims and principles - and most important of these are the aims of ending war, respecting international law and upholding human rights.

Whilst we can have little influence on the governments of other countries we surely must do all we can to influence our own MPs (not just the government) to do what is right. Not only has our government flouted the UN with the outrage of the war on Iraq but it did so by presenting a thoroughly dishonest case for war.

So what should we, as citizens of this country have a right of expect of all MPs, regardless of party? Surely we have right to expect honesty in government, and a commitment to upholding international law and the UN.

Letters from constituents are reckoned to be far more effective than a mass mailing from an organisation so we really do need every member’s help here. Could we all write to at least our own MP and ask

1. what he or she feels should be done about these issues in the light of the dishonesty, disaster and illegality of the war against Iraq;

2. and will he or she (and the party) make a commitment in the manifesto for the forthcoming election to make upholding the UN and all it stands for the guiding principle of our foreign policy?

(3. or something on similar lines.)

We would be very interested to hear of the responses you get.

David Roberts