Conservatives last ditch attempt to woo Liberal Democrat voters

Tory leader adopts Lib line on Iraq

CONSERVATIVE LEADER David Cameron was accused last night of an astonishing policy U-turn over the war in Iraq in a last ditch attempt to woo Liberal Democrat voters in Dunfermline and West Fife.

In an election leaflet he describes himself as a “liberal Conservative” and claims his party and the Liberal Democrats “agree” on Iraq.

“Issues that once divided Conservatives from Liberal Democrats are now issues where we both agree,” Mr Cameron says in the leaflet. “Our attitude to devolution and the localisation of power. Iraq. The environment. I’m a liberal Conservative.”

The Liberal Democrats opposed British involvement in the war in Iraq and have consistently demanded a firm timetable for the withdrawal of British troops.

Last spring in Perth deputy leader Sir Menzies Campbell called on Prime Minister Tony Blair to bring British soldiers home “by the end of the year.”

The Tories gave their wholehearted backing to the war against Saddam Hussein and the subsequent occupation of Iraq by British troops and have not demanded a timetable for withdrawing British troops.

SNP leader Alex Salmond accused Mr Cameron of “one of the biggest about-turns in military history.”

He said, “This is an astonishing U-turn from the Tory leader and I would now expect him to put his name to our motion of impeachment of the Prime Minister.

“Having backed Blair to the hilt on Iraq it seems Cameron is doing one of the biggest about-turns in military history.

“However, converts to sanity must always be welcomed.

“It is a pity Mr Cameron didn’t see the light somewhat sooner.”

He added, “This is quite extraordinary. The next thing you know they’ll be waving Saltires.

“I think the Liberal leadership contest should be suspended and (they) just accept David Cameron as their new leader.”

The Liberal Democrat by-election candidate Willie Rennie said, “The Conservatives are clearly clutching at straws in a vain attempt to save their deposit.

“They haven’t got a chance of winning in Dunfermline and West Fife. They came a poor fourth last time and they are a complete irrelevance here.

“Everyone knows full well that the Tories supported the war in Iraq. David Cameron should know that the voters of Fife do not have short memories—particularly when it comes to the Tories and their track record in Scotland.”

Labour candidate Catherine Stihler said, “The people of Dunfermline and West Fife know you cannot trust the Tories.

“David Cameron tells Conservative voters he is a Tory. He tells Liberal voters he is a Liberal. He tells Labour voters he is new Labour. David Cameron is a fraud, desperate to be all things to all people.”

Shadow Scottish Secretary David Mundell insisted that there was agreement between the Tory and Liberal Democrat positions on Iraq.

“Both Liberal Democrats and Conservatives agree that we need a clear strategy that will allow our forces to return from Iraq,” he said.

“Furthermore, David Cameron this week set out new proposals that Parliament must agree any future use of British forces and that is an area where we are in agreement with the Liberal Democrats.”

Earlier this week Mr Cameron proposed stripping future prime ministers of royal prerogative powers to go to war without a vote of MPs.

Tony Blair, however, insisted yesterday that he would not send troops to war without giving MPs a say unless it was necessary to act immediately for the security of the country.

The Courier