Abbott not afraid of war
By politics.co.uk staff
Diane Abbott has said she would be prepared to send British troops to war as prime minister – if it was legal.
The Labour leadership hopeful, who voted against the Iraq War and wants troops returned from Afghanistan, was keen to stress that she is not automatically against military conflict while appearing on BBC Radio 4’s PM programme.
Asked if she would send the country to war, she replied: “Well if it was a legal war I might do.
“The problem with the Iraq War, it was widely judged to be illegal.”
On the subject of Afghanistan, she said: “It might have been legal, a legal invasion, in the very first place, but ten years on, where is the legality for it?”
“If the purpose of the war was to find Osama bin Laden, well we haven’t found him ten years on.
“I think what is perceived as a western occupation of Afghanistan is becoming counter-productive.
“I think there should be a phased withdrawal. We should give way to a UN peacekeeping force, ideally led by troops from an Islamic nation. But you will not win, you will not bring stability to the region with a war.”
The Hackney North and Stoke Newington is the rank outsider in the contest, although her plain-speaking approach has brought much-needed colour and interest to the campaign.
