26th Feb 2003 - Our World Our Say sends letter to all MPs

Click here for feedback on which MPs replied and what they said. Click here to see how they voted.

The text of the letter read:
Dear MP

Public opposition to the current Iraq crisis.
Opinion polls and the biggest march this nation has ever seen show that the majority of people in this country are strongly against Britain joining America’s war on Iraq. The marchers were drawn from all sections of society, and many of us had not marched before or for a very long time. Hundreds and hundreds of thousands were typical ‘Middle Englanders’. Many more, like my parents who are in their 80’s, said that they would have liked to have been there and that we were representing them.
When I spoke to fellow marchers, it struck me how many like me are natural Labour Party voters, but are thoroughly disillusioned with the way the Government is in danger of getting us into an unpopular and unnecessary war. Several people have told me that they have torn up their Party Membership cards recently. To the best of my knowledge, at the last election your majority in your constituency was critically small. I think you should be really concerned about the current state of affairs not only for peace in the world but also for the prospects of the Labour Party.
Our World Our Say has placed a series of full-page adverts, in publications such as The Independent, The Guardian and other broadsheets. This has generated a powerful response from people eager to express their opposition to a war against Iraq. It has raised enough money to cover the costs of future adverts. With email and our website www.ourworldoursay.org the campaign is fast gathering momentum. We are receiving thousands of donations from people willing to help pay for further advertisements.
We will be closely following Wednesday’s debate on Iraq. We now have funds that enable us to step up our campaign of advertisements and diversify into a billboard campaign and leaflets. We would like to inform people about MPs who have declared themselves to be against this war.
Please take time to respond to this letter and inform us clearly of your views. Specifically please tell us your position by ticking the boxes on the attached form and returning it to us. We plan to post responses (or lack of them) on the Our World Our Say website for the electorate to see where their MP stands on this key issue. Thank you for your time and help, I know you must be hard pressed.

Yours sincerely,
Our World Our Say

An attached form asked MPs to indicate their views:
1. I do not support a war with Iraq on any basis.

2. I would support a war ONLY if sanctioned by a second UN resolution.

3. I would support a war without a second resolution, but want more time for the UN inspectors to do their work.

4. I support a war against Iraq without further UN resolutions as soon as our troops are ready to engage.

5. I want Tony Blair to try a diplomatic alternative to war based on an eminent persons mission to Iraq to seek the placement of UN peace-keepers in the country and the retirement of Saddam Hussein.

6. Other (please specify)

Click here for feedback on which MPs replied and what they said, here to see how they voted.