Letter to Tony Blair
Dear Tony Blair,
I have asked you to meet me many times - in particular at the start of this campaign. I have asked you for a full, open and public debate between us about the war on Iraq.
Now I understand a little more easily why you refuse - not only because you are vulnerable on so many counts about the legality of the war, not only because, maybe, your conscience troubles you, not only because you are the Prime Minister and I am merely a retired paramedic of little consequence.
No, you refuse to meet me because to you, the dead are not people; the dead are not names; the dead are not even numbers.
You did not, on 1 May 2005, know how many British forces have been killed. This to me - and to millions of voters - is staggering.
But I will tell you the name of one of those dead, and hope that it will burn itself into your mind and represent there, for the rest of your life, the tens of thousands of others who have died, and who will die, because of your illegal actions.
That name is Tom Keys. It is a short, memorable and honourable name. It represents a short, memorable and honourable life. It is the name of my son.
If I am to shake your hand on the platform on 5 May, I can do so only if you will first apologise for the illegal war in which Tom Keys was killed, and take responsibility for his death, and the thousands of other deaths.
I came to Sedgefield to hold you to account for your actions. During the time I have been here, your actions have come under even closer scrutiny, not just by me but by the international community. And rightly, as the edifice of lies and evasions which has propped up your decision to go to war has crumbled spectacularly in full public view within the last few days.
People will still vote Labour on Thursday, but they will not be voting for you. They will not be voting for the war on Iraq, and future wars like it. They will not be voting to give you carte blanche to continue to lead this country into illegal wars.
They will be voting Labour despite your actions, not because of them. And many of them, like me, are just waiting for the moment when you will take responsibility for the lies, illusions and misrepresentations which led to war, and step down.
Iraq will be your epitaph, as it is Tom's. But in your case it will be an epitaph of dishonour unprecedented in recent history. In Tom's case it is an epitaph of honour, and it is you who has to live with this contradiction for the rest of your life.
Reg Keys
- ©Reg Keys, 2005 -
