Cracks in the special relationship: Britain, the United States and Cuba
A survey of the British House of Commons on attitudes and responses to the question of US aggression.

In the nine-month period between November 2003 and July 2004, Members of Parliament received correspondence from their constituents regarding the Bush administration’s policy on Cuba.
Specifically, they were asked to reply to the question, “Would you support military action against Cuba by the United States?” This report details the results of this survey.
September 2004

Summary findings

  • The responses illustrate a huge gulf between the Bush administration’s policy towards Cuba and the views of the British House of Commons and senior cabinet ministers.
  • An overwhelming majority of MPs responded in writing declaring that they would not support any military action against Cuba by the US.
Many believe that US policy towards the island causes hardship for the 11 million Cubans and damages the countries economy.

The survey

  • 563 MPs surveyed : 85% of total Members of Parliament 
  • Over a nine month period between November 2003 to July 2004, constituents wrote to their Members of Parliament asking the question: “Would you support military action against Cuba by the United States?” Their responses form the basis of this report.
  • 402 written responses : 61% of total Members of Parliament
  • 319 stated that they would be against US military action against Cuba.
  • Of the remaining 83, only a handful supported US policy towards Cuba or thought that it was justified – the majority simply avoided giving a direct answer to the question.

  • A full record of responses can be accessed from the Cuba Solidarity Campaign, c/o Red Rose Club,
    129 Seven Sisters Road, London, N7 7QG
    Tel 020 7263 6452
    email campaigns@cuba-solidarity.org.uk

    Extracts from the written responses

    Peter Hain (Lab) Neath - Leader of the Commons

    “I am absolutely opposed to military action being taken against Cuba and also opposed to the continuing blockade of Cuba by the United States. I visited Cuba two years ago and was very impressed with the social advances that have been made despite all the pressure from the US.”

    Tony Blair (Lab) Sedgefield – Prime Minister

    “We do not approve of military intervention.”

    David Blunkett (Lab) Sheffield Brightside - Home Secretary

    “I have no idea of where this rumour has started, or who has put out the printed cards but as far as I can see this is not a helpful initiative.”

    Gary Streeter (Con) SW Devon - Shadow Minister for International Affairs

    “I was fortunate enough to visit Cuba two years ago and I agree with you that this country should now be left alone by the USA… I would like to see the USA’s attitude towards sanctions and trade softening considerably. I am shortly having a visit to the USA and meeting senior members of the US administration. I will certainly raise this issue with them.” 

    Oliver Letwin (Con) West Dorset - Shadow Chancellor

    “I do not believe that military action against Cuba would be appropriate or sensible”

    Charles Kennedy (LibDem) Ross, Skye & Inverness West

    Liberal Democrats would not support military action by the United States against Cuba…We also believe that the continuing sanctions against Cuba should be brought to an end. The current blockade does not serve any purpose other than to exacerbate the poverty of millions of Cubans.” 

    Michael Mates (Con) East Hampshire

    “Cuba has been a country of concern because it has to a certain extent been an exporter of terrorism – mostly in the United States.”

    Owen Paterson (Con) North Shropshire

    “I entirely endorse President Bush’s statement ‘We believe in a free Cuba.’ It is tragic that the Castro regime continues so long after the collapse of the Soviet Union…”

    Colin Pickthall MP (Lab) West Lancashire

    “…I would not support any US military action against Cuba – I would strongly oppose it. I do not support any US action – economic or diplomatic against Cuba (it stinks).” 

    Oona King (Lab) Bethnal Green & Bow

    “I would not support military action against Cuba. Cuba poses no obvious risk to the international community, or to its immediate neighbours, and far less risk of a risk to its own citizens than many other states around the world.”

    Jim Dobbin (Lab) Heywood & Middleton

    “It seems that policy advocated by the US will do untold harm to the people of Cuba and de-stabilise the whole region”

    Ian Taylor (Con) Esher & Walton - Minister in Dept. of Trade and Industry 1994-97

    “I have had 17 hours of face to face meetings with President Castro – and my presence as a Minister involved my opposition to US policies…I would oppose US military action against Cuba”

    The Bush administration on Cuba 

    Words

    • In the run up to November’s presidential elections, Bush and senior members of his administration have been courting sectors of the Cuban-American vote in the key state of Florida – a state where car bumper stickers proudly proclaim “Iraq today, Cuba tomorrow”.
    • Cuba features in President Bush’s list of countries that are of ‘concern’ in his war against terror.
    • His brother and Governor of Florida, Jeb Bush, has stated:

    “After its success in Iraq, Washington should finish with the regime
    of Castro.” 

    • In October 2003, Roger Noriega, US Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere and Latin America said that the US government is moving:  “swiftly and inexorably to removing Fidel Castro and the apparatus that has kept him in power.”
    • John Bolton, US Under Secretary of State, has on several occasions accused the country of being a biological weapons threat to the US and one that should be elevated to the ‘axis of evil’ status.
      Actions*
      • dedicating US$59 million towards activities to hasten ‘regime change
      • using military aircraft to broadcast US propaganda 
      • funding a global campaign to undermine the Cuban tourist industry and further devastate the country’s economy
      • funding anti-Cuba campaigns in selected third countries ‘as part of a broader effort to discourage tourist travel’ and smear the country’s image at an international level
      • reducing the number of visits by Cuban born US citizens from one a year to one ever three years, and further restrict these to visits to immediate family members only 
      • conducting ‘sting’ operations to guard against anyone carrying money to relatives in Cuba
      • tightening the terms of the 44-year old blockade against the island

        * New measures introduced by the Bush Administration in May 2004. Based on the recommendations of  a 450-page report by the ‘so-called’ Commission for Assistance to a ‘Free Cuba’.
    Breakdown of responses

    Table 1
    Breakdown of 402 MP responses received

    Table 2
    Responses as % of total MPs in parliament

    Table 3
    Breakdown of 402 MP responses by party