Conference, the Butler Report. The story seems to run something like this: “No one was to blame - but they really mustn’t do it again.”   Confused? You will be. But one point is certain.The people of Britain deserved better. We have had an excellent debate this morning/afternoon, making better use of 45 minutes than Saddam Hussein was ever going to. We have heard some interesting speakers, and some thought-provoking ideas. *    *    * Conference, I believe the world is a better place without the government of Saddam Hussein. But I don’t believe that the war was justified. Not in that way, nor at that time. But I’d like - just for a moment -to turn from scrutinising the past and instead look to the future. When a nation threatens its neighbours, when a nation treats its citizens so despicably that it offends humanity, the international community must be better placed to respond. A few countries acting alone cannot police the world and even if they could, it would be unacceptable for them to do so. That’s why we need the UN. When the countries of the UN work together they ensure no one country, no single culture, no one world view is imposed on others. Even within the narrow alliance that fought this war we saw how the British tempered the Americans. How much better if France, Egypt and Pakistan had been involved too? But if the UN is to work, Conference, the international community must be prepared to make it work. If we are honest, President Chirac helped set the seal on this war when he said that there were no circumstances under which he would not veto UN action because with that statement, he rendered the UN impotent.It’s a challenging idea, I know, suggesting that blame for the war might not rest solely with America but I believe it’s true. France’s threat to use its veto – whatever the circumstances – was not the statement of a responsible player on the world stage.It had more to do with the historical relationship between France and America than with doing the right thing by the people of Iraq. But we can be proud, Conference. Proud that we stood up for what we believed was right. Proud that we stood firm in our belief that the pre-emptive war in Iraq was wrong. Proud that we were the voice of the British people. But if Liberal Democrats want to do more, if we want to shape a world where the same mistakes aren’t repeated, we need to change more than just the Government. We need to see Britain working to reform the UN to prevent any one country from crippling it. Why should France, China, or even America be able to stop other countries acting in concert? The UN General Assembly should be able to revisit Security Council discussions. If one member of the Security Council has vetoed a course of action agreed by the others, the General Assembly should have the power to over-turn that veto.Countries like France would then have to use their veto more responsibly. No single country would be able to hold the rest to ransom. This would restore the authority of the UN and help ensure a safer, more stable international community. The Butler Report was never going to explain how the Government came to mislead us.But even if it had done so, it would have done nothing to prevent those mistakes happening again. Today, as far as Tony Blair and his Government are concerned, we’ve had the Butler Report – and that’s the end of the matter. “No one was to blame, but they really shouldn’t do it again.” I can’t accept that, Conference, and if you can’t either, vote for the motion. Contact me online Use the form to send me a message.   More >>> More news Latest news about my campaigns   More >>> More news from Cornwall More >>> News from Westminster More >>> Front page Published by Matthew Taylor MP, 10 South Street, St Austell, Cornwall PL25 5BH Printed and hosted by Nextra, Global House, Ashley Avenue, Epsom, Surrey, KT18 5AD.