Charles Kennedy: “We will live up to Muslim expectations”

Page 26
Q-News, Issue 362
April 2005

With most Muslim candidates running under the Liberal Democrat banner, Charles Kennedy is ready to talk tough on foreign policy, anti-terror legislation and admits he is eager to earn the confidence of the community.


Q-News: What do you see are the five most important concerns of Muslim voters?

Muslims are as concerned about general issues of the day as are others. Specifically they are concerned with war in Iraq, immigration and asylum. Our position on the Middle East is that we realise the need for a Palestinian state to co-exist peacefully with an Israeli state.


Q-News: What will be the role of the Muslims under a Liberal Democrat government?

We have Muslims parliamentarians at various elected levels, for instance the HOL, the European Parliament, local authorities and so the Muslim community plays a very active, positive role within the Liberal Democrats. I have every intention that this is enhanced at the outcome of this general election.


Q-News: What are the three things that the Lib Dems would do for Muslims if they were to come to power?

We would try to help individuals whatever community there are from. Abolishing top up fees, student tuition fees, introducing free long term personal care and getting rid of the council tax and replacing it with a local income tax. These are all issues that people are concerned with. In addition, we will not go ahead with identity cards. We will be vigorous in pursuing a just and lasting settlement in the Middle East


Q-News: What is your immigration policy?

Firstly, I begin with a statement of personal belief that our country is a richer place, with a diverse community precisely because of a multiracial, multi ethnic community which I think is a good thing. In terms of immigration policy, we have no problems with foreign labourers coming in to do the work needs to be done, in the National Health Service for example, which was built on the hard work of migrant labour doctors and nurses. That’s the general position our party will take. We will not pander to scaremongering against immigrants, which we think is highly irresponsible.


Q-News: How do you feel about the proposed house arrest schemes and trials based on secret evidence, not to mention the detention without trial of suspects?

If there are people who are considered a danger to the security of the country, then charge them and try them in a court of law. The world has changed tremendously in the last four years. If new security threats call for new measures such as allowing telephone tapped conversations, then so be it.

We are working with the government and the Conservatives in order to achieve proper legislation. But if the legislation is to be achieved, the government has to respond to several points that we have been making throughout. These include the actual power of judges to prosecute suspects. If you want to prosecute then you have to involve a high level of proof. The defence representatives have to have access to the accusations being made and the basis on which they have been made and all of these things have to be decided by a judge and not by a politician.


Q-News: How can the Lib Dems tackle the high levels of under achievement and unemployment in Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities?

Education is far too overmanaged from Whitehall. We want to return the power to the hands of the professionals and parents involved. Furthermore, we are very concerned about rising student debt which only serves as a disincentive.

How did u feel about Ken Livingstone article against the Lib Dems in the Guardian last year. It accused the Lib Dems of playing a left of centre card but in reality, pushing rather right-wing policies.

This is utter rubbish. Ken said this against the backdrop of his own re-election campaign. We won his seat because the voters came to us. This demonstrated that we are in fact, the real opposition party.


Q-News: Will the growing Muslim confidence in the Lib Dems be lived up to by the party?

We are determined to. We have a good record on all the big issues. I was recently in Rochdale and I received a hugely warm welcome from all cross-sections of society.


Q-News: Tell us about the candidates who are running for the Liberal Democrats this time.

We have thirty-six candidates from ethnic minorities. Eleven of these are Muslim. [Ed:- press time, the Liberal Democrats were fielding twenty-two candidates.] This is a huge improvement not only from the last election, we have the highest number of Muslim candidates compared to the other two parties.


Q-News: But not one is running for a winnable seat.

This election is increasingly unpredictable because a lot has changed in the last year. One can no longer predict results based on the last election. In a few constituencies, we have outrun the Conservative party to take second place behind Labour. We are the real alternative, the real opposition party.