Brown must press Bush over missile defence - Moore

5.36.03pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 30th Jul 2007

Gordon Brown should use his upcoming meeting with George Bush to raise concerns over American plans for a European Missile Defence system, according to Liberal Democrat Shadow Foreign Secretary, Michael Moore MP.

The call comes as the Prime Minister prepares to hold talks with President Bush and as a Congressional committee has cut funding for the project.

Michael Moore said:

"Missile defence is a hugely controversial issue in Washington but the Prime Minister has extinguished the debate at Westminster. Even Tony Blair promised Parliament a full debate on our role in the programme.

"There are serious concerns in Washington and Europe that NATO is the proper forum for this matter to be discussed. The Prime Minister must be robust with President Bush this weekend and demand that the concerns of all our NATO and European allies are heard.

"If the Democrats are yet to be persuaded over missile defence, then the British public must surely remain unconvinced."