MP's sister in human shield

MP's sister in human shield

Annette Lamont flew to Baghdad last week

The sister of a Scottish MP has joined a human shield intended to deter military attacks on Iraq.

Annette Lamont, from Edinburgh, is thought to be the only Scot among hundreds of foreign nationals who travelled to Baghdad last week.

Her brother, Aberdeen Central MP Frank Doran, is one of 121 Labour MPs who voted against the government during the Iraq debate on Wednesday.

Ms Lamont has taken a leave of absence from her job in the constituency office of Scottish Health Minister Malcolm Chisholm.

The mother of three said she felt compelled to join the human shield.

"I've come because I'm going to try and stop a war," she said.

'One step further'

"We've done the marches and people have turned out for them in ways that's never happened before.

"While that's important, it didn't seem to be shifting the government's position and sometimes you just reach the position where you want to go one step further.

"As soon as I heard about the human shield, I just felt I should go."

Ms Lamont said her family and friends were supportive of her move but naturally worried about her safety.

Labour MP Frank Doran is Ms Lamont's brother

If American and British forces do launch an attack in the weeks ahead, Ms Lamont said she is unsure whether she would stay in Iraq.

However, the Labour Party member reserved her strongest comments for British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

"I think Blair is key to all of this," she said.

"If he would shift his position it would totally isolate Bush and we may see some shift in the position there.

"I actually think that it's time for Blair to go.

"I don't think he represents the British people any longer and he certainly doesn't represent the Labour Party for which I've fought for nearly 30 years."