Westminster Diary (David Rendel)

Westminster Diary

January 5, 2003 12:00 AM
By David Rendel MP in Newbury Chronicle

Parliament returns this week after the Christmas break. The recess period was a welcome opportunity to catch up with some of my casework and correspondence.

And what better way to kick off the new year than to watch Newbury Rugby Club win on Saturday. In fact this is the Club's 75th Anniversary Year, so it was a promising start!

But the weekend also saw the sad news that Roy Jenkins, one of the architects of the Liberal Democrats and a former Home Secretary, has died. In his fight for human rights and against prejudice of all kinds he was far ahead of his time. As Home Secretary in the 1960s, he liberalised the laws on homosexuality, divorce and abortion. He was also a consistent advocate of the European Union, reminding us that the consequence of European disunity in the 20th Century was two savage world wars. This is a powerful liberal legacy that endures in the Liberal Democrats.

Personally, I shall always be indebted to him for his speech in my support at a rally during the Newbury by-election. Those who heard it were universally in praise of its wit, its historical sweep, and the power of its argument - an outstanding example of public speaking.

In contrast to all Roy stood for, as we enter 2003, the government's proposed criminal justice reforms constitute a serious attack on civil liberties. Meanwhile, European co-operation, to deal with the problems of the environment, crime and terrorism, remains more relevant than ever. In fighting for the causes of internationalism, peace and liberty, Liberal Democrats are fighting a Labour Party that is increasingly addicted to state power, and a Conservative Party that has recently declared its intention to cut billions of pounds from such public services as schools and the NHS.

Meanwhile, the prospect of war against Iraq remains. It was sad to watch the build up of armaments in the Gulf coincide with the holiday season, which is supposed to be about human solidarity and peace. With Britain expected to commit 20,000 troops, MPs have the vital responsibility of holding the government to account.