Backlash over MP’s Gaza tweet

IT IS difficult to determine what is more perturbing – David Ward’s incendiary tweet which appeared to urge residents of Gaza to retaliate against Israel or the failure of the Bradford East MP to recognise the offence caused by his remarks before later apologising for any misinterpretation.

Even in the face of graphic television pictures showing the bloodshed in Gaza City after weeks of Hamas rocket attacks compelled Israel to act in self-defence, it was ill-judged of Mr Ward to tweet: “The big question is – if I lived on Gaza would I fire a rocket? – probably yes.”

Given his previous clashes with the Lib Dem hierarchy over the Middle East, he should have understood the likely inflammatory nature of his outburst before pressing the self-destruct button – literally – and posting his views on Twitter. If he didn’t, it is difficult to see how he can retain the party whip and stand for re-election next year. Just imagine the repercussions if a Tory MP had responded to the downing of Flight MH17 over Ukraine by advocating military action against Russia.

Though Mr Ward did finally concede yesterday afternoon, after spending hours defending his intervention, that it was not his intention to suggest that residents of Gaza launch rocket attacks against Israel, he is still guilty of using intemperate language and this controversy serves as another reminder to politicians about the need to think before they tweet – even when the message in question is just 77 characters long.

Yet perhaps the most surprising aspect is that such views are held by an elected member of the Liberal Democrats, the one party which opposed military action in Iraq on principle and whose leader Nick Clegg has stated, repeatedly, that Israel’s long-term interests are best served by an immediate end to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Double standards

Cameron’s hypocrisy over Russia

IF ONLY the quiet dignity of the Dutch, the grieving country which suffered the greatest loss of life when flight MH17 was blown out of the sky, was matched by the West’s posturing politicians, whose inability to agree a collective response is playing into the hands of Russia’s strident president Vladimir Putin.

It is illustrated by David Cameron who chose to visit the Shetlands, ahead of the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony, rather than honouring his promise of “hard-hitting” sanctions against the Kremlin leadership if Russia did not begin to respect Ukraine’s sovereignty. “Russia cannot expect to continue enjoying access to European markets, European capital, European knowledge and technical expertise while she fuels conflict in one of Europe’s neighbours,” said the Prime Minister.

If only these words matched Mr Cameron’s deeds. Having pleaded with the French not to supply Putin’s regime with two new warships, a Commons committee has revealed that Britain is continuing to export arms and military equipment worth £132m a year to Russia, even though some of this hardware could be arming separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine.

To compound matters, the Tories received a £160,000 donation from the wife of a former Putin associate in return for playing a tennis match against the Prime Minister and Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London.

Given this, the arms sales must be halted – and the cheque returned before it causes even more offence to the victims of flight MH17.As well as leaving the mealy-mouthed Mr Cameron looking inconsequential on the world stage, such double standards will make it even harder for Mr Putin to be held to account by international law.

A golden glow

Yorkshire to conquer Glasgow

EVEN THOUGH the total number of spectators at the Commonwealth Games over the next 11 days will struggle to match the crowds who lined the streets of Yorkshire earlier this month for the Tour de France, the Glasgow sporting extravaganza is a critical component of the Olympic legacy.

With luck, the athletic prowess of 4,250 competitors from 71 nations and territories will overshadow any political grandstanding ahead of Scotland’s independence vote and demonstrate the enduring power of sport to unify Great Britain and inspire a generation to live healthier lives.

Better still, there is every prospect of Yorkshire’s sporting stars eclipsing their golden success at the 2012 Olympics when the white rose county finished 12th in the medal table.

With the incomparable Brownlee brothers leading Yorkshire’s medal charge in the triathlon today, and then the inaugural team race on Saturday, let the Games begin.