Baker says Blair and Campbell are consummate performers, seduced by the American stage
An interview with Norman Baker MP, Shadow Transport Spokesperson for the Lib/Dems
12 January 2010
Today (12 Jan 2010) the tenacious Liberal Democrat MP, Norman Baker, said that Sir John Chilcot’s Inquiry into the Iraq War is designed not rock the Establishment. So the electorate should not get its hopes up at a time when Parliament is due for change.
On the day that Alastair Campbell gave his version of events to the Iraq Inquiry, Baker said, Blair and Campbell are both “consummate performers and will continue to believe in themselves that black is white”.
Baker went on to explain that “Blair was seduced by the bright lights of the American stage", when he performed to Congress in Washington in 17th July 2003. Suddenly they loved Blair in the US.
I remember my own sister calling from Silicon Valley to say that she felt proud to be a Brit living in California - after hearing Blair’s heart rousing speech. Well, she had become an optimistic American citizen.
Norman Baker resigned from the Lib Dem front bench in 2006 to seek the truth about the apparent suicide of Dr. David Kelly, the Government weapons inspector. Baker even wrote a book about the case, “The Strange Death of David Kelly”, which has been sold out since November and in its 8th reprint. His opposition to the Iraq War isn’t just towing his party’s line, it’s a passion for the truth, to quote Mathew Parris “he has a habit of getting things right”.
The MP for Lewes and once again a front bench Lib Dem spokesman for Transport, says “Blair deliberately lied to Parliament and the British people and should therefore be held to account to make sure - at the very least - that this is never allowed to happen again”.
Baker explained that Blair is now seen as a “war victor” in the sense that Sadam Hussain was toppled and is therefore “probably untouchable”. He believes that in the end, Blair and Campbell may only have their wrists slapped by Sir John Chilcot.
Baker went on to say, “Blair and Campbell thought they were being clever in that they could satisfy Bush by going to war to satisfy domestic opinion by getting a UN resolution, but it came unstuck when the UN wouldn’t play ball”. They were wrong according to Baker.
Baker would like to see Blair tried in a Court of Law and even at the International War Tribunals Court in The Hague. If it’s proven than Blair did indeed lie to Parliament, will this just be blown away by the whirlwind of electioneering?
The Iraq Inquiry continues. Tony Blair will give his evidence later on this month or early February 2010.
Notes to Editor
1. This interview took place today in the office of Norman Baker at Portcullis House, Westminster on Tuesday 12th January 2010.
2. This interview was undertaken by Marion Gourlay. For more information please contact 07801 301 259 marion@transportpr.com