STRAW MAN STANDS UP AND FIGHTS ON LEBANON

31-07-2006

The Leader of the House of Commons Jack Straw is the latest high-profile Labour MP to speak out against Israel's bombardment of Lebanon.

Minister Kim Howells and International Development Secretary Hilary Benn have also voiced concern at the civilian toll.

But The Stirrer has been told that Straw isn't just worried about the victims - he's also positioning himself for when Blair quits as PM.

Straw made his comments after meeting Muslims from his Blackburn constituency.

He said that Israel's bombing campaign against Hizbollah targets were “not surgical strikes.”

And he added that the campaign had “caused death and misery amongst innocent civilians”.

Straw also claimed that ten times as many innocent Lebanese has died as Israeli civilains.

So why has one of Blair's old allies made such an outspoken attack?

Partly, no doubt because he believes it to be true; and partly to curry (!) favour with his local ethnic minority voters.

But a government insider suggests another motive.

“He knows what he's doing” said our source.

“He's distancing himself from Tony, and he wants him out.

“He's the shrewdest operator in the cabinet, and he realises the authority of the government is draining away.

“He's made the calculation that he's not going to be leader, but he wants to survive beyond Tony's leadership.”

The insider also told us that senior government figures who are normally pro-Israel are “very worried” about the current situation.

Is Jack Straw right - is Israel guilty of killing innocent civilians?

And should the government take steps to prevent American planes supplying the Israelis re-fuelling in Britain?