The government is criticised for not allowing any parliamentary debate on the upgrade of the 'not-so-secret' Menwith Hill base by the United States as part of their missile defence system. The Foreign Affairs Select Committee has drawn attention to the timing of this announcement: on the last day of Parliament.
The all-party Commons foreign affairs select committee criticised the "manner and timing" of the announcement of approval of an American request to use the secret base at Menwith, North Yorkshire.
The defence secretary, Des Browne, made his decision public on July 25, a day before the start of the parliamentary summer break. Less than two months before, on June 4, the government had reported that the "discussions are at an early stage and there are no formal proposals".
The government is reluctant to open up aspects of its most important alliance to free and frank debate in front of a rebellious Labour party. The strong reservoir of anti-American ideology is coupled with a predilection for revolting that surpasses even the Tory party.