Iraqi elections – Simon Pottinger spots something unusual near Manchester

Those who know it will agree that the drag from central Manchester towards Oldham to meet the motorway network is indeed nondescript. Taking this route on a grey January morning following a dull meeting makes it no better. Your focus is on stopping at the fewest possible number of traffic lights and little more.

Following some unexpected congestion this morning I came across a building I’ve passed many times without really noticing what it’s was. Today it was surrounded by the kind of temporary fencing often used to protect building sites behind which the car park was filled with modern marquees. Equally spaced along these barriers were white placards covered in Arabic. The congestion it became apparent was due to cars being waved out of the site by the police, and two coaches which were parked in the bus lane. The pavement was likewise blocked but by a large group of men.

Slowly but suddenly it dawned on me that this was an “out of country” polling station for the Iraqi elections. It was one of those breathless, heart stopping moments of shock and elation uncommon enough in normal life but almost never experienced by a British leftie of a certain age. This was as uplifting an experience as I have had in 25 years of political activity – and this impact upon someone who opposed the war.