Kensington Review Endorses Liberal Democrats in UK Election

The British general election is tomorrow, and there has been a full campaign reasonably centered around issues that matter to most Britons. The stamp duty, crime, and top-up fees at university have all factored into the campaign. So have transportation, the National Health Service and the environment. The same can be said of civil rights, Britain's relationship with the European Union and pensions. But there is only one issue in this election that matters -- the records of the Labour government and the Conservative official opposition in fighting an unnecessary and illegal war in a country that didn't threaten Britain. Only the Liberal Democrats among the major parties opposed the war, and only the Liberal Democrats deserve the public's support on polling day.

Tony Blair is the most important Labour leader since the Attlee government that served from 1945-1951. Mr. Blair led the party in the final push from the Red Flag to the Red Rose. Making a militant socialist party into a social democratic one was not his doing, but rather he led it to victory in such a way that Labour has become the natural party of government, not the Conservatives. Under his leadership, Britain is enjoying the best economic growth in decades. But, there is Iraq. Mr. Blair misled Parliament and the people. He went to war on faulty intelligence at best, and on a lie at worst. The latest leaked information shows he knew "intelligence and facts were being fixed around policy" in the US. He should have resigned to take the blame for the mess, but he has not. So, the people should fire him. Reg Keys, the father of the late soldier, Tom Keys, is running against Mr. Blair in his home constituency, and as he put it, "Tom marched off to war, his chin held high, proud to serve his country, believed what his prime minister had told him. It was a pack of lies."

As for the Conservatives under Michael Howard, what can one say? As Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition, they failed in the Iraq crisis to oppose a government that was out of control. Instead, they voted along with Labour to join in the attack -- the greatest bungle of Mr. Blair's largely error-free career, and the Tories voted with him. The party has fallen a long way from the Thatcher years, and it will almost certainly split over Europe. Its most radical move was a manifesto with what looked like handwriting on the cover. It isn't a party -- it's a Home Counties social club.

The Liberal Democrats, however, said the war against Iraq was wrong before the fighting, and after the "victory." And the facts have proved them right. There were no weapons of mass destruction, let alone any that could be launched in 45 minutes. Charles Kennedy may not be too clear on the finer points of his party's tax policy, but when it comes to the big issue of war and peace, his was the only party to get it right. Under the British first-past-the-post system, where the most votes and not necessarily a majority of them, is needed to win a seat, the Liberal Democrats are not going to form the next government, nor the official opposition, but a vote for them is the only moral option. Honorable mentions go to the Scottish Nationalists, Plaid Cymru, Veritas, the Green Party and Mr. Keys.

The Kensington Review urges every Briton with a ballot tomorrow to vote Liberal Democrat for the following reasons: Major Jason Ward, Operator Mechanic Second Class Ian Seymour, Sergeant Les Hehir, Lance Bombardier Llywelyn Evans, Colour Sergeant John Cecil, Lieutenant Andrew Wilson, Lieutentant James Williams, Lieutenant Mark Lawrence, Lieutenant Antony King, Lieutenant Philip Green, Flight Lieutenant David Rhys Williams, Flight Lieutenant Kevin Barry Main, Staff Segeant Simon Cullingworth, Sapper Luke Allsopp, Sergeant Steven Roberts, Lance Corporal Barry Stephen, Trooper David Clarke, Corporal Stephen Allbutt, Lance Corporal of Horse Matty Hull, Major Steve Ballard, Marine Christopher Maddison, Lance Corporal Shaun Brierley, Staff Sergeant Chris Muir, Lieutenant Alexander Tweedie, Lance Corporal Karl Shearer, Piper Christopher Muzvuru, Lance Corporal Ian Malone, Fusilier Kelan Turrington, Lance Corporal James McCue, Private Andrew Kelly, Gunner Duncan Pritchard, Corporal David Shepherd, Leonard Harvey (Civilian member Defence Fire Service), Lance Corporal Thomas Keys, Lance Corporal Benjamin Hyde, Corporal Simon Miller, Corporal Paul Long, Corporal Russell Aston, Sergeant Hamilton-Jewell, Captain James Linton, Private Jason Smith, Captain David Jones, Corporal Dewi Pritchard, Company Sergeant Major Colin Wall, Major Matthew Titchener, Fusilier Russell Beeston, Sergeant John Nightingale, Corporal Ian Plank, Private Ryan Thomas, Seergeant Norman Patterson, Major James Stenner, Lance Corporal Andrew Craw, Rifleman Vincent Windsor, Sapper Robert Thomson, Corporal Richard Ivell, Fusilier Gordon Gentle, Flight Lieutentant Kristian Gover, Private Christopher Rayment, Private Lee O'Callaghan, Private Marc Ferns, Lance Corporal Paul Thomas, Fusilier Stephen Jones, Gunner David Lawrence, Corporal Marc Taylor, Private Kevin McHale, Staff Sergeant Denise Michelle Rose, Private Scott McArdle, Private Paul Lowe, Sergeant Stuart Gray, Private Pita Tukutukuwaga, Acting Chief Petty Officer Simon Roger Owen, Sergeant Paul Connolly, Acting Lance Corporal Steven Jones, Corporal David Williams, Sergeant Robert O'Connor, Flight Sergeant Mark Gibson, Chief Technician Ricahrd Brown, Master Engineer Gary Nicholson, Flight Lieutenant Paul Pardoel, Flight Lieutenant Andrew Smith, Flight Lieutenant David Stead, Squadron Leader Patrick Marshall, Private Mark Dobson, and Private Anthony John Wakefield.

May they rest in peace.


© Copyright 2005 by The Kensington Review, J. Myhre, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent.
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