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| The stabbing of Caesar on the Ides of March |
In the light of Stephen Timms' stabbing by an anti-war Muslim constituent, may I suggest that the BBC conduct a survey amongst the MPs who voted for the war?
They must be gravely concerned about their personal safety. Indeed, some of them may even have nightmares of being stabbed, Ides of March style, by their Muslim constituents, especially the ones who have constituencies in Muslim majority areas.
Below are 10 questions that could be put to them:
1. Now that you have the benefit of hindsight, would you still vote for the invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan if you could turn back time?
2. Was any pressure applied on you in any way at all to vote for the invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan?
3. Was this pressure applied by the party whip?
4. Do you think the existence of the party whip has the effect of alienating a politician even further from his conscience and integrity?
5. Are you aware of Peter Bone's House of Commons Disqualification Bill due for a Second Reading on 10 December 2010?
http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2010-11/houseofcommonsdisqualificationamendment.html
6. Has any pressure (explicit or implicit) been applied on you to not support this bill?
7. Did this pressure (explicit or implicit) come from your party whip or your leader?
8. Will you be giving in to this pressure or resisting it?
9. If you intend to give in to this pressure, ie not support the House of Commons Disqualification Bill, what are your reasons for doing so?
10. Would you like to express remorse for voting for the invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan in the hope of reducing the likelihood of being stabbed "Ides of March" style by your Muslim constituents?
