It is a foolish man who rushes into war, but it is equally foolish to encourage evil for the sake of a false and temporary peace. We are at the beginning of a new century and what happens in Iraq will help define the future of our children, and of our grandchildren. Whilst I have respect for those who have genuine doubts and misgivings about the war I am bound to say that I find it slightly difficult to understand why so many who were ready to support action in the former Yugoslavia, against Milosevic, without any United Nations Resolution at all, are now opposing action in Iraq. No one could begin to pretend that Saddam Hussein is a less despicable tyrant than Milosevic.

A Member has a duty always to put country and constituency before party and to exercise his judgement in what he considers to be the national interest. On this issue I have had no hesitation in giving my support to the Prime Minister. In my view he has been entirely right to take the tough line that he has over these last few, difficult months. He has behaved as a national leader, and with calm courage. It cannot have been easy for him to give this lead. His party has an honourable tradition of pacifism and there is, quite clearly, unease throughout the country.

However, our troops are acquitting themselves with the courage and resolution we have come to take all too easily for granted. They deserve our support as they seek to bring an evil tyrant down. I have no doubt that they will succeed and that a new Iraq will emerge that will justify the action that has been taken by Great Britain, the United States and the many other nations that make up the coalition.