Stephen's views on the crisis in Lebanon

From the outset of the conflict in Lebanon my party called on Tony Blair to support an even handed response and an immediate ceasefire. Whilst Hezbollah must be condemned for its actions, Israel's bombardment of Lebanon was a form of collective punishment that must also be condemned. Only following a ceasefire in Lebanon, Gaza and Israel could negotiations on a settlement to the violence in the region begin.

The leader of the Liberal Democrats, Sir Menzies Campbell MP, pressed the Prime Minister directly on the complicity of the UK and US governments in Israel's military actions and long warned that any delay in arriving at a UN resolution demanding an immediate end to hostilities would have a terrible cost in lives, destruction and would do damage to the reputation of the UN itself. My Lib Dem colleagues and I were however hugely disappointed that government did not join with our allies in Europe and the United Nations in calling for an immediate ceasefire. To hear from the Deputy Secretary General of the UN that British diplomatic efforts were, in fact, counter-productive is a serious indictment of this Government's position.

An immediate and effective humanitarian response must now be the priority but this conflict has also highlighted a need to reconsider British foreign policy and this government's over-dependence on the United States.