In 2003, as 1 million in London and 100 000 in Glasgow (me limping in at 99 990) marched against the US/UK plans to bomb and to invade Iraq, only one major party leader stood on the platform to denounce it – Alex Salmond, SNP leader at the time.

One year later:

Still with the courage he needed, in July 2016:

Why do I say courage? He had the courage to oppose a war sanctioned by Parliament and dear to the US administration and then, as the horrors grew and the dishonesty of leaders like tony Blair became clear, to call for heads to roll. They were always going to get him.

What may have strengthened his determination?

In 2009, from the Lancet, the number one medical research journal in the world, trusted by professionals, academics and anyone who reads it, reported that deaths had been far higher than politicians in the UK and the US had claimed:

In the 40 months post-invasion. We estimate that as of July, 2006, there have been 654 965 (392 979–942 636) excess Iraqi deaths as a consequence of the war, which corresponds to 2·5% of the population in the study area. Of post-invasion deaths, 601 027 (426 369–793 663) were due to violence, the most common cause being gunfire.

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(06)69491-9/abstract

More than 600 000 deaths? To replace a dictator?

Hey, I wonder what was that media-lovely Andy ‘Pandy’ Burnham up to then? He’d be against killing hundreds of thousands of children, wouldn’t he? Of course! Let find out….NO!!!