Call for Inquiry into Use of UK as Transit Station for US Weapons to Israel
John McDonnell MP, challenger for the Labour Party Leadership when Blair stands down said:
"The revelation that an airport in the UK, (Prestwick in Scotland), has been used as a transit station for the transportation of US weapons to Israel has come as a shock to many MPs and commentators.
"Senior ministers in both the British Government and the Scottish Government have stated that they were unaware of this arrangement but how long has this practice been going on and who in the British Government authorised it?
"In addition PCS air traffic controllers have confirmed that the transportation of cargo of this hazardous nature would have had to be informed in advance in an inventory to the authorities which would appear to run completely counter to UK Government claims that there was no knowledge of what the cargo contained.
"The use of UK soil as an airstrip for the US' role in arming Israel will serve to confirm yet again in many eyes the subservient relationship between the Blair administration and the Bush regime.
"I am calling for a full inquiry into how the US can use our airports to transport weapons to a foreign country in conflict and who in government has given the political go ahead for such an arrangement."
