Lib Dems say "Not in Our Name"

9.42.29am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 12th Feb 2003

Brighton and Hove Lib Dems will be joining the rally opposing war on Iraq on Saturday 15 February.

Liberal Democrat prospective candidates in May's city elections met at the weekend to discuss their party's stance to the potential conflict in Iraq.

A group of activists from the city will join party leader Charles Kennedy at this Saturday's peace march in London.

Lib Dem Group Leader, Councillor Paul Elgood said: 'Bush and Blair are not acting in our name. We support the Lib Dem's stance that the UN is the best way forward to disarm Saddam and that all inspection routes must be fully exhausted before any action is even contemplated. At this stage the Liberal Democrats believe a second UN resolution would be required.

'There is great unease in the city on this issue and we are clearly detecting opposititon to the government.'

Liberal Democrats have consistently said that any military action in Iraq should be:

• based on the evidence presented by the weapons inspectors;

• taken with a mandate from the UN Security Council;

• subject to a substantive vote in the House of Commons before British troops are committed to any such action.

• it is for the Security Council as a whole to declare any breach of Resolution 1441 and what action should follow, not for any individual member, no matter how powerful.

• military action must be a last resort when all other diplomatic and political options have been exhausted. We are not there yet.