Should Labour MPs stay in line?

A Labour MP who says he was warned about his criticism of Britain's role in the military campaign, has again spoken out.

Paul Marsden, who opposes the bombing of Afghanistan, clashed with Labour Chief Whip, Hilary Armstrong, after she reportedly compared his stance to the appeasers of Hitler in the 1930s.

Mr Marsden said: "It is about time we took a stand against this pathetic whipping system and tried to do something to reinvigorate our failing democracy."

Should Labour MPs be allowed to speak out against the military strikes? Or should they "unite" in support behind the bombing campaign?

This debate is now closed. Read a selection of your comments below.

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Such ridiculous insecurity is as bad for party morale as it is for democracy

Chris W, UK

I just wish the Government would have some faith and understand that if a Labour member is in disagreement with the party leadership it does not mean a return to the "bad old days of the 70's". Such ridiculous insecurity is as bad for party morale as it is for democracy. War demands a debate with all opinions aired not just those of the majority.
Chris W, UK

As a Labour Party activist I am delighted to see that there are still one or two MPs left with minds of their own and a little bit of backbone. Well done, Paul.
Pauline, London

Do we need Labour MPs in a time of crisis to be undermining Tony Blair?

Robert Parker, UK

Since there are protests allowed to be shown on television by groups opposed to this action, do we need Labour MPs in a time of crisis to be undermining Tony Blair? Even the Conservatives are supporting the Labour Government in this crisis.
Robert Parker, UK

How can 'dissent' affect a country's security? A senior German politician once said to me 'The strength of a democracy can be measured by its ability to sustain and tolerate dissent.' If anyone ought to know, it's the Germans. Shame on you people who want to suppress Mr Marsden. All power to his elbow!
Marjorie, England

The MP Paul Marsden has evidently realised that he is not and never will be ministerial material, and he is entitled to try to gain publicity some other way. But conversely his party is wholly entitled to withdraw its own support from him; and so it should. Mr Marsden's inability to distinguish the self-defence practised by the western democracies from the terrorism of the theocratic fascists of al-Qaeda is a discredit to himself and will be the epitaph on his brief and undistinguished political career.
Oliver Kamm, UK

The Labour Chief Whip has made a real hash of it

Tom, UK

It is in the nature of a parliamentary majority that occasionally backbenchers decide to make a stand. Otherwise there is no point in them being there. Reasoned dissent is an integral part of democracy, without it nothing could progress. It is the role of the Whips to make sure this doesn't get out of hand. In this case, the Labour Chief Whip has made a real hash of it. This job requires tact, toughness, and huge persuasive powers. Unfortunately, the Whip failed to persuade and did not command sufficient respect to prevent the MP going to the Press. Weak Whips are dangerous to a government. This one will go very quickly.
Tom, UK

I'm a Labour Party member whose MP George Galloway has been disciplined for speaking out against the war. According to the Prime Minister we are fighting this 'war' to preserve democracy. But I thought freedom of speech was one of the fundamental rights in a democracy. How does this square with gagging my MP on an issue that I agree with? Those few MP's brave enough to speak out should be praised not reprimanded.
Mark Craig, UK

Imprisonment without trial is legal, the leader's word is enough to execute a suspect, opposing views are squashed, and upholding human rights "get in the way of real police work". Is this really England we're living in?
Martin, England (I think)

He should reap the consequences of betraying the dominant position of the party

Tom O, USA

Marsden has received way too much coverage for his stance. He is just one insignificant dissenter, something that is always there no matter how just or universally accepted a cause may be. Sure, he should be able to speak up, but he should also reap the consequences of betraying the dominant position of the party. I think that's all Armstrong was communicating to him. She wasn't trying to gag him.
Tom O, USA

I never expected too much of Conservative MPs, but I am stunned at the easy ride that Labour MPs have given this government, or more precisely, Tony Blair.
Andrew Preston, UK

How can one expect Labour MPs to tow the line when Tory Blair himself is out of line.
T Dar, Sharjah, UAE

There is a significant opposition to the war and this should be echoed in Parliament. That's what MPs are elected for.
Saima, UK

Are our MPs at Westminster solely there to spout out the official line? No, democracy without dissent is as meaningless as a wheel without a hubcap.
Nigel Baldwin, UK

While Blair is riding roughshod over public opinion, at least we have a few MPs, like Mr Marsden, who are considering the views of many people, like myself. Perhaps if Mr Blair listened to the British people as much as he listens to Bush, then he may be in with a chance of re-election. As it is, I don't rate his chances much.
Tania Lehman, UK

MPs are elected to represent their constituents, and use their consciences (let's for the sake of argument be charitable and assume they still have them). They are not elected to slavishly follow party policy. If they were then they might just as well be appointed by the politburo. Maybe that's what the New Labour hierarchy thinks it is, but those of us who took any notice of our history lessons do not wish to live in a Stalinist regime and will not remain silent while the totalitarian Mr Blair forces his will on parliament.
P, UK

Healthy debate never harmed anyone, while censorship has and will continue to do so

Gerry, Scotland

One of the reasons so many people have disengaged from politics is that MPs toe the party line rather than do what is correct for the electorate. Healthy debate never harmed anyone, while censorship has and will continue to do so.
Gerry, Scotland

It's a tad ironic that on one hand we're being told that the action currently being taken in Afghanistan is part of a defence of our freedom and democracy and on the other hand we have a Prime Minister passing new laws on a whim over the weekend without recourse to Parliament or MPs. We should admire MPs who dare to articulate the views of a sizeable minority of the British public but slapped down for raising the slightest murmur of dissent.
Graham, UK

This whole incident has convinced me to never vote Labour whilst Blair and his cronies are in power.
Paul Grayson, UK

MPs should have every right to disagree with the government in the same way any member of the public has. Only MPs are in a position to be heard and can therefore speak for the mixed representations and opinions of the public. That is what a democracy is surely. I do not support the bombing and from what I can gather from general comments this means I must be a supporter of Bin Laden. What utter rubbish. I am disgusted with terrorism and this is why I am just as disgusted with what we are now doing now to the innocent people of Afghanistan as by what Bin Laden and his followers have done to the US. I am only sorry that this mass destruction and killing of innocent people is not looked upon in the same way as the deaths of innocent Americans. I would now like to see Tony Blair working with the aid agencies on the frontline so that they can deliver food and medicine to those poor people.
Sharon Hall, UK

Labour's control-freakery has to stop

Giles, England

Labour's control-freakery has to stop. We live in a democracy, where everyone has the right to speak their minds. If this right is muzzled then we lose one of this country's core values. But this issue goes deeper than just Afghanistan. Anyone who challenges this government's view on anything is branded either an extremist or a lunatic. An elected dictatorship exists where one party's opinion is not open to challenge - and that is what we have now.
Giles, England

In my day we tried to appease Hitler and look where that got us. We must learn the lessons of history. Politicians should support the war. It is a just war.
Arthur, Barnstaple, UK

One of the fundamental freedoms of any democracy is the freedom of dissent. Without that, a country is simply not a democracy. If questioning the war is behaviour analogous to the appeasement of Hitler what does the attempt to suppress all dissent resemble?
Gideon Hallett, UK

Since this whole war on world terrorism, or should I say a selected group of terrorist organisations, is about maintaining freedom I find it ironic, although unsurprising, that the UK government is trying to suppress free speech. Our politicians should have the right to argue against the bombing campaign even if we might think they are being somewhat naive in their views.
Paul, England

These people should be removed from government for treason

Jason, US/UK

Oh please. These people should be removed from government for treason. When the lives of our brave troops are on the line, we should do nothing other than support them and this just cause. To those who disagree, Bin Laden thanks you for your support and hopes to murder another 6,000 people as soon as he can just to satisfy your wishes.
Jason, US/UK

Someone remind me, when were the basic principles of democracy abolished in the UK?
Pat, UK

I was under the impression that the protection of democracy was part of this war. If an elected MP wishes to state an opinion at odds with the majority, then so be it. I rarely agreed with Tony Benn. However I admired him for his consistency and his unwavering commitment to his socialist principles. We need to be reminded by our political opponents that there may well be another way. Mr Marsden may well have different ideas than most of the government, but he not only has the right to dissent, he has a duty to express it.
Barry P, England

We are supposed to be living in a democracy, not a politburo

Andrew C, England

Our legislature is meant to be independent from the government and keep it in check. Paul Marsden is just doing what he is elected to do. We are supposed to be living in a democracy, not a politburo. It's about time our elected House of Commons representatives reasserted themselves especially as the House of Lords is undemocratic and has no power anyway. The legislature is meant to represent the people and not be the government's poodle.
Andrew C, England

Of course our MPs should be allowed to voice their opinions. If they cannot, it is a sign that democracy has died in the UK. If they are forced to "unite" with the government, then Tony Blair becomes little more than a dictator.
Graham, UK

If some MPs are against the strikes, they should be able to say so

C Wright, UK

If some MPs are against the strikes, they should be able to say so. We complain that politicians aren't honest and open and yet when they are we object. I for one would rather know what people really think. It doesn't matter whether you agree with them or not. To gag them is clearly against the concept of democracy itself.
C Wright, UK

It is right that those politicians opposed to the military action say so publicly. It is a matter of conscience, and as this is (or used to be) a democracy, it is up to the voters to decide whether or not they agree with him and want him to represent their views. Hilary Armstrong's words, if true, are inappropriate for a Chief Whip. There should be questions asked as to whether she is fit to hold the office she currently enjoys.
Kate, UK

It's about time that the views of those of us who oppose this state terrorism against Afghanistan were represented at Westminster. It's just a shame that there aren't a few more Labour MPs with the guts to speak out.
Eileen, UK

There should be a law to prevent this type of dissent

Peter, UK

MPs and journalists have no right to question military strikes in public. This is exactly the sort of news that the terrorists want to see. I am disgusted with those in the media who after a couple of weeks are saying that the military action is not achieving results. There should be a law to prevent this type of dissent that could affect our countries security.
Peter, UK

I'm appalled at the comment by Peter, UK, suggesting that there should be a law against disagreeing with the government. What's next, arresting the Tories for trying to overthrow the current government?
Martin, England, UK

Strange isn't it, how suddenly we have a failing democracy when we are personally criticized or can't get our own way. Well Mr Marsden, you have your views and have been allowed to express them. Sorry, but not everyone agrees with you and they have told you so. Is this a breakdown in democracy? No, it's just being democratic, I think.
Roger I, UK

Going to war is one of the most important decisions a country can make. Real war means accepting major casualties and destruction of property, followed by a decade or so of poverty as we repay the cost of the war. Ask anyone who lived through the 40s and 50s. What we have at the moment is not war, but a limited engagement in support of an ally, never mind what Tony calls it. But it could turn into real war, and this is precisely what needs to be open to full debate, not subject to party politics. In a recent poll before Afghanistan was bombed, I voted in support of a limited and proportional military strike in response to the September 11 attacks. I was one of 70 percent that supported such a move. This was not intended to give the green light to months of bombing, nor any major involvement of UK troops. And it was certainly not intended to approve a wider war against half of the Middle East states that openly or covertly support terrorism.
Andrew, UK

I support the bombing but I still do not want to see our own citizens and politicians gagged

Chris B, UK

I was under the impression we lived in a democracy with free speech, unlike the countries we are criticising and attacking. Democracy comes with a built-in set of problems - people tend to say things you disagree with. This is no excuse to stop people expressing their views. I support the bombing but I still do not want to see our own citizens and politicians gagged.
Chris B, UK