8 June 2001

PRIME MINISTER HEARS DIRECT REQUEST TO SAY 'NO' TO STAR WARS
HELEN JOHN GARNERS 260 VOTES

In the British General Election poll last night Helen John gained 260 votes in the Sedgefield constiuency, although she was prevented from attending the vote count after a personal intervention by Jack Straw, the Home Secretary. Ms John will appeal the decision. Helen said, "the actual count is not as important as the fact that the issue was raised so publically."

Although she was not able to attend, eight women dressed in long green, white and violet sashes reading 'NO STAR WARS' were quite visible and gave several interviews to press, radio and television on the Star Wars issue throughout the night. They also handed out hundreds of leaflets which included the web site address of the Global Network Against Weapons and Power in Space, as well as the website for Helen's election address. In one exchange on the floor of the counting room, a leaflet was handed personally to Cherie Blair, while another of the women politely challenged Tony Blair to start informing the electorate about ballistic missile defence. His reply: "It's in my in-box." Outside, as Tony and Cherie Blair got into their waiting car, the women sang "which side are you on? are you on the side of genocide?" a well-known Greenham song. Security was extremely heavy, with police officers every few yards, but the women were not moved on. While the serenade was caught by BBC cameramen, it was not broadcast.

After the result was announced about 1am, all the candidates gave a speech in the order in which the vote was returned. On the platform with the Prime Minister and other candidates was Cat Euler, who stood in for Ms John and gave the following statement while Mr Blair listened some 10 feet away, and the nation's media stood in rows upon rows of cameras. We do not know if the statement was broadcast nationally, but it is unlikely. It may have been broadcast on a local level, but again we don't know.

"I am really sorry Helen John is not here in person. I cannot speak for her, but I am sure she is also very sorry not to be here. She was refused access to the vote count this evening by the governor of Askham Grange Prison and by Jack Straw - even under police escort. After she announced her candidacy, she was given a three month custodial sentence for £300 worth of damage to the fence at the US base at Menwith Hill. Menwith Hill is a combined Star Wars and Echelon base in North Yorkshire. We are wearing suffragette colours tonight because they too went to prison for the sake of moral principles. Helen John would like to be here tonight - she is her own election agent, and the fact that she was refused access to the poll is a serious constitutional matter, as well as deeply unfair.

"She would speak to you tonight about ballistic missile defence and the implications of this system for all us. 178 MPs have signed an Early Day Motion expressing concern about Star Wars, and it should be the subject of a full parliamentary debate. It is a project that would destabilise international relations, make Britain more vulnerable to attack, and lead to a terrifying and expensive arms race in space.

"If Helen were here tonight, she would also thank all those people who have donated to the campaign, all those who have canvassed throughout the constituency, and all those who have voted for her tonight. Helen will continue to work in the constituency to raise awareness on this issue between now and the next general election.

"If she were here she would also, I am sure, urge the Prime Minister to say 'no' to George Bush on Star Wars."

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