CHRISTMAS MESSAGE FROM DAVID RENDEL MP

12.00.00am GMT Wed 24th Dec 2003

"Iraq has dominated the past year. Christmas - with its message of peace and goodwill - is a fitting time to sift through some of the lessons.

"I am proud of the fact that all 53 Liberal Democrat MPs voted against the war. I believe strongly in the rule of international law, and I could not support the sidelining of the United Nations. The fact that the search for weapons of mass destruction has been fruitless suggests that it was right to be sceptical.

"Partly because of our stand we acquired a 54th MP. Sarah Teather was elected in a historic by-election in Brent East - the most multicultural constituency in the UK. The collapse of the Labour vote showed how much the Government has lost the support of the public in general and minority communities in particular.

"In the last Prime Minister's Questions before the war started, I intervened to raise the issue of the humanitarian consequences. I pointed out that the humanitarian aid and the help with reconstruction needed in Afghanistan had not been forthcoming. The Prime Minister assured me that it would be different in Iraq. It wasn't.

"Meanwhile, here in West Berkshire we can all look forward to the long-awaited opening of the new hospital. With a new College already in place and a new cinema, with luck, also opening within two years, West Berkshire is becoming a better place to live year after year. In 2004 let us hope everyone gets behind the cinema negotiators and urges them to sort out the details as quickly as can be done."