Global Affairs (Jo Swinson)

Global Affairs

Iraq

Jo protests on the 5th anniversary of the Iraq invasion

Like thousands of people in this country and millions around the world, I took to the streets in February 2003 to March against the US-UK invasion of Iraq. The Liberal Democrats are the only party to have opposed the war from the start, joined only by few rebels from other parties. Since the last Government's illegal invasion of Iraq the following month, 179 British servicemen and women and 100,000 Iraqi civilians have lost their lives. The war has cost the British tax payer £8billion.

After the secretive Butler and Hutton inquiries resulted in a whitewash the Liberal Democrats pressed for an open public inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the decision to go to war. The Labour government eventually set up the Chilcot enquiry, while ensuring that it would not report until long after the 2010 General Election. In the course of the inquiry it has become increasingly clear that not only the public, but also senior members of the government were seriously misled over the justifications for war. The inquiry should report its findings by the end of 2010.

For more information, updates and analysis of the Iraq war inquiry, please follow the link below.

Iraq Inquiry Digest

Jo talking about Iraq in Parliament

Camp Ashraf (Geneva Convention), 25th March 2009

Christians in Iraq, 16th December 2008

Iraq Inquiry, 25th March 2008

Jo's news stories on Iraq

21/01/10 Voters deserve to know PM's role in Iraq war

16/06/09 Swinson condemns secret Iraq inquiry

25/03/08 Jo slams 'cynical' Tories over Iraq inquiry

24/01/08 Foreign Office must not block publication of Iraq secrets

10/05/07 Iraq will be Blair's overriding legacy

27/10/05 Democracy Campaigners thank Jo Swinson MP and 31 other Lib Dem MPs for backing Bill to require PM to get Parliamentary approval for going to war

Afghanistan

Nick Clegg meets British troops in Afghanistan

The UK has had a military presence in Afghanistan since the US-led invasion in October 2001, and around 9,000 British troops are currently based in Helmand province in the south of the country. Although the Liberal Democrats believe that the deployment is in Britain's security interests and is a tough but necessary mission, we the absence of any coherent international political strategy is putting our soldiers at unnecessary risk and prolonging the suffering of the people of Afghanistan. A clear military strategy and adequate resources are required so we can achieve the desired military and political objectives and work towards a regional peace settlement. Our strategy must focus on people and not just political leaders, and we must pay more attention to economic development as well as security.

Read Nick Clegg and Paddy Ashdowns' September 2009 article on the mission in Afghanistan

Jo talking about Afghanistan in Parliament

Afghanistan and Pakistan, 5th February 2009

Jo's news stories on Afghanistan

15/10/08 Jo Swinson interviews youngest Afghan woman MP Malalai Joya

Europe

In the midst of globalisation Britain's membership of the EU remains vital. Our country's potential influence in the international arena is much greater when we lead in Europe. We must focus on issues such as tackling climate change, taking on cross border criminals and building economic prosperity for all Europeans. We are stronger together and weaker apart.

Trade Justice

Trade injustice plays a fundamental part in maintaining our unbalanced world economy. To reduce levels of poverty in developing countries it is essential that governments in developed countries such as our own trade on fair terms, respecting rather than exploiting poorer communities. The Liberal Democrats seek to remove the subsidies and tariff barriers that prevent the poorest countries in the world selling their goods on fair terms. Aside from government policy, local communities can also play an important role in promoting fair trade. I have been supporting local businesses who sell Fair Trade products in East Dunbartonshire (an area which thanks to its Fair Trade Movement has become an official 'Fair Trade Zone') and I hope that more local businesses will do the same. You can read more about this in the stories below.

Lenzie Academy pupils visit Parliament to campaign for fair trade

Jo's news stories on Trade Justice

18/02/10 Jo joins Jason Donovan to support Vulture Funds Bill

19/08/08 Lenzie resident with an Interest in fair trade

25/04/08 Atholl pupils getting into the Fairtrade habit

28/02/08 Jo praises Fairtrade in East Dunbartonshire shops

28/02/08 Jo Swinson Champions Fairtrade Schools in East Dunbartonshire

11/10/07 Jo delighted with East Dunbartonshire Fairtrade triumph

15/09/06 Local schools recognised for their fairtrade credentials

31/03/06 Jo calls for more Fairtrade in Parliament

06/03/06 Oxfam Bishopbriggs welcomes Jo for the start of Fairtrade Fortnight

01/03/06 Jo leads local Fairtrade delegation to meet Minister

20/01/06 Trade rules as important as aid targets - Jo

16/11/05 Jo Swinson leads fair trade debate calling for strong EU leadership

03/11/05 Jo meets local Trade Justice supporters

Human Rights

As members of the international community it is important to respect human rights and uphold international human rights law. As Foreign Affairs Spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats I regularly spoke on issues of human rights effecting countries such as Iran, Iraq and Latin America in order to put pressure on the government to fulfil its obligations in the global arena. Here are some of my articles and speeches on related topics and below are links to relevant organisations that campaign on human rights.

Jo talking about Human Rights in Parliament

Colombia (Human Rights), 27th January 2010

Burma, 9th December 2009

Death Penalty (Global Abolition), 28th October 2009

Human Rights (Iran), 8th July 2009

Latin America, 3d March 2009

Promoting Democracy and Human Rights, 13th October 2008

Jo's news stories on Human Rights

04/06/10 Aid must be allowed to reach Gaza - Jo

01/06/09 Bearsden Baha'i community concerned for imprisoned leaders

External news stories on Human Rights

04/03/10 High level of baby birth defects in Iraqi city of Fallujah blamed on US forces' use of controversial weapons (Daily Record)

22/02/10 Britain angers Kremlin over Chechnya visit (Telegraph)

18/02/10 British MPs ask Chechnya to solve rights murder (Reuters)

04/02/2010 Silence on British Army link to Colombian mass grave (Tribune)

01/04/09 Way paved for Red Crystal symbol

Nuclear Arms

The Liberal Democrats are firmly committed to the global elimination of nuclear weapons. We support the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) of 1970 and believe we must reduce our own nuclear stock pile. The Labour government, with the support of the Conservatives, took the decision to renew Britain's archaic Cold War "Trident" nuclear weapons system at the cost of £100 billion to the British taxpayer. The Liberal Democrats oppose the replacement of Trident, and as part of the coalition government we have ensured that it will have to be scrutinised to ensure value for money before going ahead.