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Iraq and the wider Middle East

No, I shall not. Its portrayal across the world has let loose a tide of enmity against Britain and British people, which could well endanger us and our children and grandchildren for at least a generation. I agree entirely with my hon. Friend the Member for Ilford, South (Mike Gapes), who is no longer in his place, that we are at a most vital point in the history of the middle east. We need to take stock; we need to start again; we need to break ourselves away from the thrall of believing that everything that Washington does is right. Above all, if we cannot get an ethical element into our foreign policy—as recommended by my late good friend, Robin Cook—we can at least go back to the proper position that the first interests of Britain’s foreign policy are the safety and security of this country and its people, and not cosying up to anybody else for whatever reason.