General Press Comments

[Andy Edwards]

"In Iraq, we see an administration which continues to flaunt its hostility toward America and to support terror." This is the Shadow Foreign Secretary's own words, and the primary and chief reason we should categorise Iraq as evil. Murder, pursuit of dangerous weapons of mass destruction, were secondary issues of concern for him. I am absolutely against nuclear weapons. I'm against chemical weapons. And I'm aghast that there are leaders around the world that would not only develop and use these weapons.

But let's also note- while we're agreed that the use of weapons of mass destruction is wrong, the Shadow Foreign Secretary didn't actually propose DOING anything about his "axis of evil." This Government will be doing things to promote peace and human rights around the world. This Government will be working to promote strength. While this Government is leading on the issues, the Conservatives will talk about how great we can be when we just follow another's lead.

[Will Frost]

In the same breath, the Home Secretary criticizes the Shadow Foreign Secretary for not proposing detailed proposals, and then proceeds to say, "the Government will be doing things to promote peace and human rights."

Got it.

[Andy Edwards]

I imagine the actual Foreign Secretary- the one who oversees this important role for Britain as an independent nation- will be more than happy to outline what it is we are doing. Now that the Tories are wanting the Home Secretary to speak on foreign affairs, I hope that they'll ask the Transport Secretary about tax policy.

No wonder they're in Opposition.

[Dame Evelyn Redgrave]

The Home Secretary dived right into the press of his own volition to criticise the Shadow Foreign Secretary's editorial and close relations with the US in the same breath. Now he tries to wriggle out of his blunder on the Special Relationship by saying the Tories want the Home Secretary to speak on foreign affairs and it's not his role to comment on foreign policy.

Well, given this Home Secretary's first revealing thought was to criticise close relations with the US, it's only right that the Conservatives question his views on such an important issue. This is particularly so given the Home Office and associated agencies work closely with the US Department of Justice and their associated agencies on many issues of law enforcement and counter-terrorism. Rather than trying to get a snappy quote in the press about the Opposition, the Home Secretary might like to remind himself of his department's remit working with the US and how his role is as vital to US relations as that of the Foreign Secretary or Prime Minister.

[Sir Dylan Macmillan]

A holder of a Great Office of State has criticised the Special Relationship and Conservative plans to reinforce it, of course we will question his views on foreign affairs. As Home Secretary Mr Edwards is an important part of the Five Eyes security arrangement safeguarding our domestic security in tandem with, among others, the United States he has so readily attacked us for advocating a close relationship with. His comments, and his apparent desire to see us end or weaken the Special Relationship, would see Britain put at risk to international terror and poor faith actors on the World stage. I would urge him to clarify his position on the Special Relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom lest the whole nation believe he supports his ideological bedfellows in the SCG in supporting the hard left over the western world.

[Sir Dylan Macmillan]

In labelling an Axis of Evil the Shadow Foreign Secretary has established a list of countries whose governments are just that, evil. Despotic governments like Iraq and North Korea that run roughshod over international law, actively pursue the nuclear bomb, and target their own populations for wicked, and yes evil, reprisals should they step out of line. The Home Secretary may not have a problem with these rogue states ignoring international law and murdering their own civilians, but it is only right that the west calls them out and acts to limit their influence and protect their populations wherever possible.

[Andy Edwards]

I've never criticised the special relationship with the United States. There's much we have and will continue to accomplish together- and there are things that we can and do accomplish apart as well. Our countries have shared values, our leaders have worked together on important issues in the past- just as sometimes we've clashed. I'm not seeking to end the special relationship. I'm seeking to clarify a mess of policy proposals from the Shadow Foreign Secretary that have no basis in reality and that in some ways would make us less safe. I see the Tories are happy to deflect from that much.

[Will Frost]

The New Labour spin machine is, unsurprisingly, working overtime to fix the comments made by the Home Secretary. The reality is this: the Home Secretary callously summarized the Special Relationship as an alliance where Britain only exists to, "demonize and attack countries that are mean to the United States." In his first foray into foreign policy, Mr. Edwards casted doubt on the importance of our relationship with the United States and belittled Britain's role in this critical international partnership. No matter how they try to spin it, we all know exactly what the Home Secretary meant. And I can tell you this: a Conservative Government would never have a Home Secretary who cares so little for our American friends.

[Blakesley]

Despite what the Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Foreign Secretary may think, the United Kingdom is not involved in Iraq because Iraq flaunts "hostility toward America". We are involved in Iraq because, in 1990, Saddam Hussein violated international law and invaded Kuwait. In the years since, Iraq pursued weapons of mass destruction, used weapons of mass destruction against its own people, and engaged in crimes against humanity. Those are fundamental threats the international security and, quite importantly, to Britain's national interest. It is for those reasons that British airmen enforce a no-fly zone over both southern and northern Iraq. It is for those reasons that the United Kingdom enforces robust and strict sanctions against Iraq. The United Kingdom acts in Iraq, not because it is in America's interest, but because it is in ours.

In that regard the Home Secretary is absolutely correct - "hostility to America" is not, and cannot, be an organising principle of British foreign policy. An unpleasant reality for the Conservative Party may be that, while America is our greatest ally - one with whom we will always robustly honour our treaty obligations and cooperate with on the world stage-, the United Kingdom is an independent nation with an independent foreign policy. If America's view of the world were the cornerstone of our foreign policy, then the United Kingdom would not maintain diplomatic relations with Cuba; the British government, under Margaret Thatcher, would not have reopened the British Embassy in Tehran. Had the United Kingdom simply followed America's lead, there would have been no intervention in Kosovo and tens, potentially hundreds, of thousands would be dead as a result of Milosevic's genocidal campaign against Kosovar Albanians.

The Special Relationship is special, not because we refuse to criticise each other or because we follow each other blindly, but because of shared history, culture, and values between the United Kingdom and United States that drive a robust set of shared interests - a commitment to peace and security, steadfast support for international law, and the maintenance of an open and liberal international system. Where those interests align, as they do in Iraq, the United Kingdom stands shoulder to shoulder with the United States. It is because our interests align that we send British airmen into harm's way. This Government would never deploy British forces simply because a nation shows "hostility to America". We deploy them to defend our interests, protect our values, and honour our commitments. We deploy them because Saddam Hussein murdered his own people and pursued weapons of mass destruction.

[Clarice Ashbridge]

I am rather sad to be taking up the role of Shadow Foreign Secretary in these circumstances, and I wish Daniel and his family all the best. We know he is a fighter, and I am sure once he has beaten this cancer he will be back playing a prominent role in the Conservative Party and the opposition soon enough.

Whilst I'm sad to be moving on from heading up our plans for local government reform, I am beyond excited to be taking up the position of Shadow Foreign Secretary, and I'm confident in Dylan Macmillan's capabilities in his new role and wish him well.

The 21st century is in it's infancy, but in many ways more than ever before we stand at a crossroads of history. The traditional conflicts of the world, of East versus West, of liberalism versus authoritarianism, are like all aspects of our modern world ever changing. As our friends become more diverse, and our enemies more dispersed and harder to tackle, we must see a fundamental shift from the attitude which as for so long considered British decline inevitable. I look forward to setting out our positive vision for foreign affairs, and holding this government's feet to the fire on foreign affairs.