Questions (from the Barnet Times)

1. Did you support the invasion of Iraq? Do you still? When is the right time to withdraw our troops?

1. I was totally against the invasion of Iraq; in fact the Lib Dem’s are the only party to have consistently been against this issue. The war was illegal and remains so today and until we have the full-published advice the Prime Minister received we will never really know what happened. No body is suggesting that Saddam Hussein was anything but a brutal dictator but there were better ways of dealing with this issue that could have involved all of the UN. Countless innocent Iraqis have been killed over the imaginary WMD’s that Blair promised us that were not only there but could be launched within 15 Minutes. I remember poor Dr Kelly and his family and the faces of mothers and families grieving over dead children and relatives.

Our troops are professional people who deserve to be sent legitimately to very dangerous and difficult situations, not at the whim of a US President. Allied forces should leave when asked by the Iraqi parliament and will be occupiers until that day. We should look for a phased withdrawal of our forces by the end of 2005.

2. Was Barnet Council right to block Barnet FC's plans for a stadium at South Underhill?

2. The answer is no, While there are real concerns for residents and our green spaces should be protected we also need community focus in our clubs and sporting organisations; we need to work with them to find a solution. The Tories have used it as a political slapping post, no one wins that and it doesn’t solve the problem

3. What would your party do to improve the deteriorating services on the Northern Line?

3. We would renegotiate the current contracts because directors have become rich and the service has been exceedingly poor, simply put the whole thing is a mess that needs urgent attention. What happened to the saying that the customer is always right, in this case the customer has been put last and safety is compromised. The northern Line is rightly called the Misery line and needs urgent attention and the companies who have allowed this to happen should cough up for their mistakes.

4. Is it racist to suggest a policy of reducing immigration to Barnet?

4. Discussing immigration is a contentious issue and have become the calling card of one the right wing parties. Of course we should have open and honest discussions and introduce systems for control such as the’ Green Card’ system. However I beg to differ with my blue striped counterparts when they whip up fears, anxieties and quite simply put, xenophobia when discussing immigration. I am an immigrant I have quite clearly integrated into the community, have an English husband and raised two grown children in this country. I have employed people and now wish to represent people. If that is what immigration means for Barnet, that hard working people want to come and enhance our community then thank god for that!

Those people that want to stop all immigration have no suggestion as to where will find key workers, such as hospital staff and council workers. We owe a debt to the immigrant community of Britain over the last century that has helped shape and mould this country and one of the most productive and tolerant communities in the whole world. This is a proud tradition and the intentions of anyone who wants otherwise are dubious at best.

Published and promoted by D. Iwi on behalf of N. Boethe (Liberal Democrats) all at 5 Meadway, London NW11 7JR