MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Falklands' visit early next year for Shadow Foreign minister Stephen Doughty
“The Labor party has a very clear and unchanged position on the Falklands; any decision on their future has to be one made by Falkland Islanders”. Cardiff South and Penarth MP Stephen Doughty has become the shadow minister responsible for Africa, South Asia and the Falkland Islands, reports Walesonline. The Labour MP takes on the role at a time when the UK is responding to the migrant crisis in North Africa and tensions have heightened between Britain and Argentina over the future of the Falklands, the Islands which he plans to visit early next year.
Mr Doughty, who won the seat in a 2012 by-election, comes to the role with years of experience in charity campaigning – and he served as an advisor to former International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander. In his new role, he will support Shadow Foreign Secretary Hilary Benn.
Mr Doughty is also vice-chair of the Army group in parliament and he hopes the new role will allow him to bring together his interests in “diplomacy, defence and development”.
On the Falklands, he is adamant that Labour will support the Islanders remaining British so long as that is their desire.
He said: “The Labour party has a very clear and unchanged position on the Falklands, which is one of support for Falklanders... Any decision on their future has to be one made by Falkland Islanders.
“I’ve had the privilege of being able to travel to Argentina last year to Patagonia, where of course there are very strong Welsh connections and obviously we discussed the issue while we were there.
“I intend to travel to the Falklands in the early new year... Unfortunately we do see some very unhelpful words, I think, from the Argentinean Government but our position remains unchanged.”
Top Comments
Disclaimer & comment rules-
-
-
Read all commentsContinuance of Labour's policy is reassuring. Lets hope that remains so.
Oct 31st, 2015 - 10:45 am 0The Labour party are even more unstable with 'policy' than Camoron and co.
Oct 31st, 2015 - 11:25 am 0I will believe 'it' when I see it. Get rid of Corbyn and the bunch of losers might have people who 'listen' to them.
They have just about enough sense to realise if the waiver over the Falklands they can kiss goodbye to any little credibility they think they have left.
@2. It's very difficult to assess the labour party on this issue. Corbyn, of course, is not to be trusted. Imagine his idea of “joint administration”. I would expect the first argie move would be to “request” the removal of British forces as peace would be “assured”. The next step would probably be the arrival of a “token” 5,000 argie troops. Then, argies would be “permitted” to buy land. And occupy it. How long before argies outnumbered the Islanders? Retain the “democracy”. We all know what argie “democracy” is worth. As Simon Weston has said, it amounts to surrender. We all need to remember the price that the Falkland Islands and Britain have paid. 3 Falkland Islanders died due to argie war crimes. 255 British troops gave their lives. Has to be the equivalent of a mortgage for 260 years.
Oct 31st, 2015 - 02:16 pm 0Besides, the Falkland Islands have recognised the importance of explaining their position and rights. I doubt that a British political party planning to surrender the Islands to argieland could expect to be elected. It couldn't survive anyway.
@1. But don't rely on Corbyn or Labour. If you're lucky, Corbyn might, eventually, make it into the 80s. But, since he didn't want to fight for your Islands, make it 1980/81. He would have left you under the argie boot. The Labour Party is big on giving things away. It gave away British control of our own borders. It gave away all our money. Lots of it to the scrounging underclass that most countries are stuck with. Crime or benefits? Forgetting that you can catch criminals. But benefits are just a conspiracy to relieve those that work and pay taxes of their money. Fifteen years after the Falklands War, the Labour Party set out to try to make sure we couldn't fight for your freedom again. Here's Corbyn https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremy_Corbyn Read carefully. Who could trust such and individual? According to Kirchner, Corbyn is “great friend of Latin America”. Is that what you want?
Commenting for this story is now closed.
If you have a Facebook account, become a fan and comment on our Facebook Page!