Last Wednesday I joined the crowds of thousands of people who enjoyed the Hythe Venetian fete, which is now in its one hundred and fifty first year. It was wonderful to see so many local schools, businesses and community groups, from right across the district represented amongst the entries of floats. Congratulations should go as well to the fete’s Chairman Cllr John Schoner who has now been at the helm for twenty-two years. A little rain at the start didn’t seem to dampen the enthusiasm of either the spectators or the participants. The first float in the procession carried the Mayor of Hythe, Cllr David Owen, and the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, Lord Boyce, who as a former First Sea Lord, has I’m sure come through heavier weather.
Away from home waters the civil war in Libya appears to be entering its final phase with large areas of Tripoli now being held by the rebel forces. The end of Colonel Gadaffi’s oppressive regime will be welcomed around the world. Rebuilding the Libyan state will take time and may also require further international assistance, but the opportunity is there for the people to create a new society based on freedom instead of fear. The intervention of Britain and our allies to enforce the no fly zone and prevent the Libyan Government from launching a full scale mechanised war against its own people has probably saved tens of thousands of lives. Had we stood back and watched the overthrow of the rebel control of Benghazi and the almost certain violent repression against anyone who had been involved in the uprising, Gadaffi would be secure and able to continue to menace his citizens at home and support the export of terror abroad. It is unthinkable now that this could have happened, however but for the action of world leaders, including our own Prime Minister, it was all too real a possibility. I think important lessons have been learned from the previous wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. It was right for us to offer protection to the rebels from attack, but ultimately the decisions on how Libya is to be governed and by whom have to be taken by its own people, and not enforced by occupying armies.
Like many of you I remain very concerned by reports of Government repression in Syria and I hope that President Assad will listen to calls from around the world for him to stand aside and allow political reforms. Twelve months ago the idea that the governments of Egypt, Syria, Libya and Tunisia could all fall would have been unthinkable but their end marks a tremendous opportunity for Europe and the western world. I believe we must extend the hand of friendship to the peoples of these countries and help them in the transition to more open and free societies, which in turn should support the peace and prosperity of the whole region. Whilst there remain many problems of their own for members of the European Union to face, it must look out to the world, and not in on itself.