WOKING MP SILENT ON BLACK WATCH

In spite of a request from Dr Anne Lee to the Woking Conservative MP to ask for a vote in the House of Commons before British troops were sent out of UK control, he has not argued for this in the House of Commons. Dr Lee said "I would contend that this decision was not 'just an operational matter', it was a new and strategic decision. We have subjected our forces to a much increased risk.

"I understand that there are 130,000 American troops in Iraq already, but last Friday we were warned that what was originally called a 'limited deployment' is now requiring two more British regiments to be made ready to take over from the Black Watch - the Scots Guards and the Royal Scots (see notes for the Editor).

Anne added "as we move towards Remembrance Sunday, we must remember those in our army who are under particular stress now. Although British forces have a tradition of working with troops from many nations, I am deeply concerned that we have now sent soldiers to work under US control.

"My thoughts are with all the British soldiers and their families (some of whom may well be from Woking), who are fighting in Iraq.

"I hope that this conflict can be bought to an end sooner rather than later, especially in light of the reports that over 100,000 civilians have been killed already".