 After witnessing “truly horrific” sights in Gaza, Kingston MP Ed Davey told students that “we must speak up more loudly if we want to make a difference”, at the Liberal Democrat Society’s launch this month.
During his trip a few weeks ago, Mr Davey saw schools bombed to smithereens and ice cream factories, kindergartens and hospitals completely destroyed. Gazans were prohibited from entering their homes and were left grieving loved ones on the streets.
Mr Davey said: “I was kept waiting at the Gazan crossing for seven hours, which shows they were not making things easy for us, but this was a small price to pay for what many have been through.” Mr Davey saw a presentation about settlements that the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) had also shown Tony Blair. Mr Davey said the former Prime Minister had admitted: “I didn’t realise it had been so bad”. “He’d been a Prime Minister for ten years. You’d have thought someone might have told him”, the MP said. Over 1,300 people were killed in Gaza, mainly civilians, and estimates put the child death toll between 291 and 400. Mr Davey said he could not believe this was a proportionate response to the amount of rockets fired over Israel as so many lives have been taken. “Israel has the right to exist, but what is going on in Palestine is unacceptable”, he said. However, Mr Davey remained optimistic and thought there was still hope: “If Palestinians are more unified and Hamas and Fatah unite, there may be someone to sign the peace deal.” He urged students to write to the Foreign Secretary, making sure they understand Europe’s present role and situation, to get the message across to the government. Also speaking at the Lib Dem Society’s inaugural meeting was Susan Kramer, MP for north Kingston including Kingston Hill and Richmond. Mrs Kramer spoke about 21st century activism, and the importance of getting the government to release information to the public, in particular the minutes of the UK’s decision to go to war in Iraq. She said: “The primus inter pares relationship has broken down and now we are battling democracy. We are fighting to get decisions made locally.” However, she said she has seen vast improvements in transport, health and education services since she has been an MP for the area, but believes they have just began to scratch the surface in tackling child poverty. Many students signed up to join the Lib Dem Society following the talks, whilst enjoying wine and nibbles provided by organiser Georgina Little. Mr Davey said it was the largest turnout to a political meeting at the university he had seen in 12 years.
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