Challenge To King

9.21.37am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 20th Apr 2005

Speaking at a three-way debate between parliamentary candidates at St Andrew's Church, Rugby on Monday 18th April, Richard Allanach issued a direct challenge to Labour's Andy King.

Why were the UN weapons inspectors not given the time to finish their jobs?

He said: "In March 2003 the United Nations' inspectors were in Iraq searching for the weapons of mass destruction. They were having difficulty finding them.

They pleaded for more time. The choice was simple - support Dr Hans Blix and his request for more time for peace - or support George Bush who wanted to launch his war there and then.

Our MP closed his ears to the pleas of the weapons inspectors. On the 18th of March 2003 he voted for the UN's inspectors to be expelled, for Baghdad to be bombed, for Iraq to be invaded. As a result our country is less safe, scores of our servicemen and women have been killed, tens of thousands of Iraqi civilians including many women and children are dead, billions of pounds which could have been put to much better use have quite literally gone up in smoke.

It was an historic error on which you now have the first opportunity to pass judgement" he told the hundreds who had gathered in the church.

Mr King did not reply to the challenge.

The debate will be broadcast on 107.1 Rugby FM at 9pm this Sunday evening.