Norman Baker MP Member of Parliament for Lewes constituency
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US Election: Will Blair cash in his favours with 'best buddy' Bush?
Speaking in the wake of the re-election of US President George W. Bush Lewes MP and Lib Dem Shadow Environment Secretary Norman Baker has voiced concerns about the one-sided nature of the UK’s current relationship with the Bush administration as the US’s ‘best buddy’.
Leading a Commons debate, Norman questioned the value of the ‘special relationship’ between the two countries when the British Government has singularly failed to move the US at all on issues key to UK policy, including the Middle East, the detention of prisoners without trial in Guantanamo Bay, and the Bush regime’s appalling record on environmental protection.
During the debate, Norman said: “The so-called special relationship seems to have become less and less important to the United States, but paradoxically it is in some ways more and more important to the United Kingdom. We seem to have to give more and more to keep the US interested. It is time to review our relations with the US in light of the balance of power in the world and the relative strengths of individual countries."
After the debate Norman said:
“In reality the ‘special relationship’ is a ‘one-way street’ in which we give everything and the US gives nothing back. For example where is the reciprocity in the 2003 Extradition Treaty which allows the US to extradite British citizens for trial in the US with no reciprocal arrangements in return? What on earth is the Government doing signing such one-sided treaties?
“It appears that whilst Mr Blair is bending over backwards to help the US on issues such as Iraq – and risk the lives of British troops in the process – he is getting little cooperation from the US on other issues in return. US cooperation is vital in order to bring a lasting solution to conflicts in Iraq and the Middle East. Moreover it must be pressed to commit itself to the rule of international law regarding the detention of prisoners in Guantanamo Bay and to come on board international efforts to combat climate change. When will Tony Blair cash in the very substantial chips it has accumulated in this relationship as Bush’s best buddy and press the US to act?"