The Hindu : International : Dead soldier's mother enters British poll fray

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 13, 2005

International

International

Dead soldier's mother enters British poll fray

By Hasan Suroor

LONDON, APRIL 12. The mother of a British soldier killed in Iraq has decided to contest next month's general election against the Armed Forces Minister, Adam Ingram, saying that she wants to give a "voice to all those who want to end this war''.

Anti-war campaign

Rose Gentle, whose 19-year-old son Gordon was killed in Basra last year, is expected to emerge as the public face of the growing anti-war election campaign led by George Galloway, a former Labour MP, who was expelled from the party for reportedly calling upon the Iraqis to fight against British and American forces.

Ms Gentle, a housewife from Scotland, has appealed to other local candidates, contesting on the same platform, to withdraw and unite behind her in order to avoid splitting the anti-war vote.

The public anger over Iraq took an ugly turn when a prominent Labour MP was pelted with eggs when she visited her East London constituency on Sunday.

Oona King, whose pro-war stance has infuriated her predominantly Muslim electorate, is being opposed by Mr Galloway contesting on behalf of his newly-formed Respect Party.

The incident came as a poll for The Daily Telegraph showed that more than half of the voters were opposed to the war and believed that it had increased the threat of global terrorism.

Ms Gentle launched her campaign by calling for immediate withdrawal of British forces from Iraq.

"Since my son was killed in Iraq, I have campaigned to expose the truth about his death.

"I want to give a voice to all those who want to end this war. Adam Ingram and all those who voted for the war in the House of Commons share the blame for the death of Gordon and all the other victims of Bush and Blair's war for oil,'' Ms Gentle said.

She appealed to all those who opposed the war to send a "clear message'' to the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, to end the occupation of Iraq and "bring home troops now''.

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