Salma Yaqoob | Question Time on Afghanistan | 10.12.09

Salma Yaqoob defends British soldiers and innocent Afghan civilians against a war which has been irresponsibly and badly managed, left our troops with little protection, security and safety; and seems to have no end in sight.

Salma makes reference to Birmingham's soldiers and their families, highlighting the concerns of wounded soldiers recovering at Selly Oak Hospital in her home city.

"I'm from Birmingham, we have Selly Oak Hospital there and I'm not surprised that more than half of the soldiers, when Gordon Brown visited in September, simply shut their curtains because they feel so let down and I think its an absolute disgrace that the Ministry of Defence is actually pursuing wounded soldiers in court to get back compensation; so the idea that you [Bill Rammell, Ministry of Defence] support them and value them is absolute nonsense.

"I'm a mother; I have three sons, I would be proud to have my sons defend this country. My issue though is why are we betraying the professionalism, bravery and commitment of our troops by sending them on an ill-conceived and doomed mission in the first place."

BBC Question Time, the BBC's premier political debate programme, was broadcast from Wootton Bassett. The market town in Wiltshire has come into national focus for honouring those who have given their lives in the service of their country.

The panel included the former head of the British Army General Sir Richard Dannatt, the Minister of State for the Armed Forces Bill Rammall MP, the shadow foreign secretary William Hague MP, the former Liberal Democrat leader Lord Ashdown, the former newspaper editor Piers Morgan and the Respect Party's Salma Yaqoob.

Watch the full show on BBC iPlayer here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/... (time sensitive)

Date: Thursday 10th December 2009
Venue: Wootton Bassett School, Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire

• Category

  News & Politics

[Tzimnewman3]

The Respect Party consists of the very best in MP's. George Galloway who is also an excellent MP who like Salma Yaqoob speaks the truth no matter if you like to hear it or not. Vote Respect lets tell the main parties that we want MP's of this high callibre.

[QuranoSunnah]

Very positive answers given by Sister Salma Yaqoob. The best party with sensible people in UK is the Respect Party.

[GrooveGalore]

This woman is awesome,such a voice of reason truth and wisdom unlike anyone ive ever heard of speak on these issues in decades i hope to see here go realy far in the government of the UK and realy bring back the respect that that country should have...

[GrooveGalore]

This woman is awesome,such a voice of reason truth and wisdom unlike anyone ive ever heard of speak on these issues in decades i hope to see here go realy far in the government of the UK and realy bring back the respect that that country should have...

[PapGripDezi]

WOW. she just killed it! amazing WOman.

[allieron]

Respect, Salma Yaqoob.

She's absolutely correct.

Piers Morgan is another leering tool of the Monolith, actively working to fearorize the gullible taxpayers into supporting his sly masters bloated war machine.

Good debate, though. Nice to see it kept clean. Dear old BBC.

[skibb19]

thank you salma you are a star may god help you in every need

[zola253109]

Very good and very encouraging to see someone who speaks the rue voice of the left. Young men and women dying for a lying government is just as tragic as Afghans dying, it's for all of them that we need someone new. I'm personally a Green but I am proud that my party and Respect can work closely together and I look forward to seeing Salma and Caroline working together in Parliament.

[Alex Lee]

piers morgan you fat slug