Britain in the world
With Labour, Britain is strong and influential, standing up for its national interests and acting as a force for good in the world. We are leading efforts to tackle world poverty, protect the global environment and to promote human rights – and confronting shared threats to international security from terrorism and the proliferation of chemical, biological and nuclear weapons. We have made Britain a leading partner in the EU and we are actively involved in efforts to bring peace to the Middle East.

What we’ve done Led international efforts to tackle global poverty – we’ve written off bilateral debt for the poorest countries, including Uganda, Mozambique, Ethiopia and Tanzania, and have more than doubled the aid budget since 1997.
Put the protection and promotion of human rights at the heart of Britain’s foreign policy – intervening in the Balkans, Kosovo, East Timor, Sierra Leone and Afghanistan. Britain is helping build a free and democratic future for the Iraqi people.
Demonstrated international leadership on issues such as the Middle East Peace Process, African development, protecting the global environment and establishment of the International Criminal Court.
Made Britain a leading partner in Europe, working constructively in the EU to promote British jobs and trade and to enhance Britain’s role in the world.
As the party of strong defence we have provided the strategy and resources necessary for the effective defence of Britain and its interests. With Labour we have seen the longest sustained increase in defence spending for 20 years.

What we’re going to do
We have made Africa and climate change our priorities for the UK’s presidencies of the G8 and EU in 2005.
In an increasingly interdependent world, we are supporting reform of the UN to ensure that it is able to meet increasing expectations and demands.
We have set a timetable of 2013 to meet the UN target of 0.7 per cent of national income on aid.

We will continue to work with the international community to tackle the threat posed to peace and security by terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and will work to build support for an International Arms Trade Treaty.
We are working to reform the EU’s institutions to make enlargement work and to ensure Europe continues to deliver for British citizens. We will hold a referendum on the European Constitutional Treaty and campaign for Britain to maintain its leading role in Europe against weakness and isolation.

Forward not back
Michael Howard’s foreign policy has left the Conservative Party isolated in Europe and unwelcome at the White House. Michael Howard’s contortions on the issue of Iraq have served only to confirm the opportunism that has defined his leadership. And the Tories’ position of isolation and disengagement in Europe would put British jobs, British trade and British prosperity at risk. Their policy of renegotiation of existing EU treaty obligations is not supported by any other EU member state and can therefore lead only to withdrawal or Tory climbdown and national humiliation.