Daniel Kawczynski MP, author of Seeking Gaddafi, has certainly been busy.
From appearances on Newsnight and The World At One to articles in The Guardian and blog posts on ConservativeHome, our author is fast becoming the Press’s go-to man for information and analysis of the Libyan turmoil and the British Government’s response to it.
Having authored a candid and insightful exploration into what makes Gaddafi tick, Kawczynski is well-placed to comment. He was right on the money when he warned yesterday of the need for the international community to tread carefully when responding to Gaddafi, saying on The World At One that ‘any bellicose statements from us could put lives at risk’. Today we are hearing reports that the UK’s tough rhetoric against Libya may indeed have resulted in Britain having to pay bribes to Libyan officials at Tripoli airport in order to ensure the safe departure of British citizens.
Kawczynski – who also chairs the parliamentary all-party group on Libya – is not only concerned for the safety of those Britons still stranded in isolated Libyan desert compounds but is also, it seems, keen to dig deeper into the relationship between Gaddafi and former Prime Minister Tony Blair, with the Daily Mail reporting that he plans to raise questions in Parliament next week about the amount of money Mr Blair has made through his links with Libya.
Seeking Gaddafi by Daniel Kawczynski is available now, priced £19.99