Difference between revisions of "MPs on Syria airstrikes, November-December 2015"

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*[[David Jones]] - 'Ths country should plays its part in helping to defeat [ISIL].'<ref name="Hansard26Nov">[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201516/cmhansrd/cm151126/debtext/151126-0002.htm Syria], Hansard, 26 November 2015.</ref>
 
*[[David Jones]] - 'Ths country should plays its part in helping to defeat [ISIL].'<ref name="Hansard26Nov">[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201516/cmhansrd/cm151126/debtext/151126-0002.htm Syria], Hansard, 26 November 2015.</ref>
 
*[[Andrew Mitchell]] - Is this not the way in which we discharge our responsibility to protect innocent civilians, both here in the United Kingdom and in Syria?<ref name="Hansard26Nov">[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201516/cmhansrd/cm151126/debtext/151126-0001.htm#15112625000002 Syria], Hansard, 26 November 2015.</ref>
 
*[[Andrew Mitchell]] - Is this not the way in which we discharge our responsibility to protect innocent civilians, both here in the United Kingdom and in Syria?<ref name="Hansard26Nov">[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201516/cmhansrd/cm151126/debtext/151126-0001.htm#15112625000002 Syria], Hansard, 26 November 2015.</ref>
 +
*[[James Morris]] - ' The Prime Minister is absolutely right to say that ISIL/Daesh needs to be taken on in its physical territory in northern Iraq and Syria.'<ref name="Hansard26Nov">[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201516/cmhansrd/cm151126/debtext/151126-0002.htm Syria], Hansard, 26 November 2015.</ref>
 
*[[Amanda Solloway]] - 'I welcome the opportunity to stand shoulder to shoulder with our two closest military allies, France and the USA'.<ref name="Hansard26Nov">[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201516/cmhansrd/cm151126/debtext/151126-0002.htm Syria], Hansard, 26 November 2015.</ref>
 
*[[Amanda Solloway]] - 'I welcome the opportunity to stand shoulder to shoulder with our two closest military allies, France and the USA'.<ref name="Hansard26Nov">[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201516/cmhansrd/cm151126/debtext/151126-0002.htm Syria], Hansard, 26 November 2015.</ref>
 
*[[Bob Stewart]] - ' I ask that we bring that highly potent gesture to a vote of this House as soon as next week.'<ref name="Hansard26Nov">[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201516/cmhansrd/cm151126/debtext/151126-0001.htm#15112625000002 Syria], "Hansard, 26 November 2015.</ref>
 
*[[Bob Stewart]] - ' I ask that we bring that highly potent gesture to a vote of this House as soon as next week.'<ref name="Hansard26Nov">[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201516/cmhansrd/cm151126/debtext/151126-0001.htm#15112625000002 Syria], "Hansard, 26 November 2015.</ref>

Revision as of 17:25, 28 November 2015

This is a very rough and ready attempt to look at what public evidence exists as to the balance of opinion in Parliament on the Government's proposal for airstrikes against ISIS in Syria, ahead of a likely vote in November 2014. It is mostly based on public statements, although it also uses some unattributed reports, such as those of shadow cabinet meetings. Given the considered statements coming from MPs, its sometimes a fine judgement whether or not MPs are leaning one way of the other, and many are likely to take no position until a vote. The relevant evidence used for each MP is included in references below.

MPs leaning towards airstrikes

Conservative Party

Most of the Conservative party are expected to support the Prime Minister's call for airstrikes.

  • Crispin Blunt - 'the United Kingdom should play a full role in the coalition.'[1]
  • David Cameron - 'The reason for acting is the very direct threat that ISIL poses to our country and to our way of life.'[1]
  • Christopher Chope - ' I support an ISIL-first strategy, but can my right hon. Friend explain how we will succeed with that strategy if it is not shared by Turkey, which seems to be more interested in bombing Kurds than in bombing ISIL?'[1]
  • Kenneth Clarke - 'The Prime Minister has made a compelling case for playing a proper part'.[1]
  • Philip Davies - 'I am prepared to support the Prime Minister in military action against Islamic State, which poses a severe and direct threat to us, but not against Assad, who does not.'[1]
  • Nadine Dorries - 'If the attack, God forbid, had happened in London and not in Paris, I believe that today the British people would be outraged, dismayed and upset that our allies did not have our back'.[1]
  • Nigel Evans - 'I will support any motion that he brings forward to take action against ISIS in Syria'.[1]
  • Liam Fox - 'The question is whether we confront them over there or, increasingly, take the risk of having to confront them over here.'[1]
  • Cheryl Gillan - 'there can be no doubt that we would bring a specific military capability'[1]
  • James Gray - '[The Prime Minister has] 'led opinion in the House and throughout the country to favour taking the right move, which is striking against ISIS wherever it may be.'[1]
  • Gerald Howarth - 'It makes no sense to stop at the Iraqi border today.'[1]
  • Bernard Jenkin - ' I commend my right hon. Friend’s approach as set out in his statement, particularly that he is working with our allies.[1]
  • David Jones - 'Ths country should plays its part in helping to defeat [ISIL].'[1]
  • Andrew Mitchell - Is this not the way in which we discharge our responsibility to protect innocent civilians, both here in the United Kingdom and in Syria?[1]
  • James Morris - ' The Prime Minister is absolutely right to say that ISIL/Daesh needs to be taken on in its physical territory in northern Iraq and Syria.'[1]
  • Amanda Solloway - 'I welcome the opportunity to stand shoulder to shoulder with our two closest military allies, France and the USA'.[1]
  • Bob Stewart - ' I ask that we bring that highly potent gesture to a vote of this House as soon as next week.'[1]
  • Tom Tugendhat - 'They are a vile, satanic death cult and they must be stopped.'[1]
  • Sarah Wollaston - 'The Prime Minister has made a compelling and considered case today.'[2]

Labour Party

A majority of the shadow cabinet and many other Labour MPs are said to support airstrikes despite the opposition of the Labour leader.

  • Heidi Alexander - 'argued for intervention' - New Statesman.[3]
  • Hilary Benn - 'leaning in favour of military action' - Guardian.[4]
  • Vernon Coaker - 'argued for intervention' - New Statesman.[3]
  • Michael Dugher - 'spoke up on Thursday in support of military action' - Guardian.[4]
  • Angela Eagle - 'argued for intervention' - New Statesman.[3]
  • Caroline Flint - ' told the Sunday Politics she believes there can be a case for British military intervention in Syria' - BBC.[5]
  • Mike Gapes - 'said he is prepared to rebel against the party leadership over UK air strikes in Syria'. BBC.[6]
  • Kate Hoey - ' The agenda is to help others, including our allies, to degrade, deflate and ultimately destroy ISIL'.[1]
  • Dan Jarvis - ' If the prime minister can show he has a wider strategy to do that, he will have my support.'[7]
  • Liz Kendall 'I would support it' given commitments on reconstruction etc.[8]
  • Chris Leslie - 'What would it say about our judgment if we failed to take heed of the appeal from the United Nations?.'[1]
  • Lucy Powell - 'spoke up on Thursday in support of military action' - Guardian.[4]
  • Tom Watson - 'leaning in favour of military action' - Guardian.[4]
  • John Woodcock - "This new attack should prompt the government and all political parties to look afresh at the case for extending the air campaign".[9]

DUP

  • Nigel Dodds - 'If it protects our people, here and abroad, we must act'.[2]

MPs leaning against airstrikes

Labour Party

The Labour leader is opposed to airstrikes in Syria, as are a minority in the Shadow Cabinet and many Labour MPs.

  • Diane Abbott - Supported Corbyn in Shadow Cabinet - New Statesman.[3]
  • Richard Burgon - 'I'm not persuaded'.[10]
  • Dawn Butler - States 'my fear is that bombs will make things worse, not better' but adds 'My mind is not closed on this.'[11]
  • Ruth Cadbury - 'As a Quaker, this is a matter of conscience for me, and I will therefore not support military action in Syria.'[12]
  • Jeremy Corbyn - 'In my view, the Prime Minister has been unable to explain the contribution of additional UK bombing'.[13]
  • John Cryer - Supported Corbyn in Shadow Cabinet - New Statesman.[3]
  • Paul Flynn - 'absurd policy that will increase terrorist recruits'.[14]
  • Roger Godsiff - "What I'm not convinced of is dropping more bombs on Syria is going to add anything to the defeat of ISIS"[15]
  • Nia Griffith - 'against Cameron's plan' - Guardian.[16]
  • Fiona Mactaggart - 'agrees with [Corbyn] in opposing British intervention in Syria' - Independent.[17]
  • John McDonnell - "I’m still in a situation where I’ve expressed the view that I’m opposed to the bombing campaign or engagement."[18]
  • Gavin Shuker - 'I am opposed to the proposed action in Syria, but for the Labour Party not to have a collective position on it is frankly untenable'.[19]
  • Dennis Skinner - 'Skinner has warned of the perils of Britain intervening in the Syrian civil war' - Independent.[20]
  • Wes Streeting - ' I fear we will be inevitably drawn into a quagmire.'[21]
  • Emily Thornberry - 'I listened with great care to what the Prime Minister said because I wanted to hear about the strategy and the plan, but I am disappointed because I fear it is very thin.'[1]
  • Jon Trickett - Supported Corbyn in Shadow Cabinet - New Statesman.[3]
  • David Winnick - 'would military action help to defeat ISIS? I happen to believe that the answer is no.'[2]

SNP

The SNP are expected to vote against airstrikes.[3]

  • Angus Robertson - 'key questions posed by the FAC remain unanswered, and unless he answers them satisfactorily, the SNP will not vote for airstrikes in Syria.'[1]
  • Philippa Whitford - 'We will not bomb them out of existence, and we know that this may well increase recruitment of extremists here.'[1]
  • Stephen Gethins - ' I do not believe that he has yet answered our questions adequately on issues such as ground troops or a long-term strategy.'[1]

Liberal Democrats

The Liberal Democrats are expected to vote against airstrikes.[3]

Plaid Cymru

Plaid Cymru's 3 MPs are expected vote against military action.[22]

  • Hywel Williams 'I ask [the Prime Minister] to examine his conscience and examine all choices short of bombing, as we all must.'[2]

Green Party

  • Caroline Lucas - 'will [the Prime Minister] directly address the vital concerns that come through very strongly in the evidence to the Select Committee report that our ability to continue that key political and diplomatic role will be compromised fundamentally if we join the bombing?'[2]

MPs said to be undecided

  • Chris Bryant - 'We don’t want to give Isis a free pass but we also don’t want to give Cameron carte blanche for this.'[4]
  • Richard Burden - "hope the above along with the links I have included gives you an idea of the considerations that will be in the forefront of my mind as I decide how to cast my vote."[23]
  • Andy Burnham - 'understood to be undecided about how to vote' - Guardian.[4]
  • Sarah Champion - 'I've not decided either way!'[24]
  • Yvette Cooper - 'understood to be undecided about how to vote' - Guardian.[4]
  • Kate Green - 'Kate will be holding a number of events to meet and hear from constituents this weekend'[25]
  • Liz McInnes - 'I'm still weighing up the evidence'.[26]

Other relevant comments from MPs

Conservative Party

  • John Baron - 'Without answers to these questions, airstrikes will only reinforce the west’s failure in the region generally, at a time when already there are too many aircraft chasing too few targets.'[2]
  • Rehman Chishti - 'In relation to defeating this evil organisation, its ideological appeal and its self-proclaimed legitimacy, our key ally France uses the term Daesh, and the French media now follow'.[2]
  • Richard Drax - 'I thank my right hon. Friend for his comprehensive statement this morning, but I caution him about ruling out the use of western ground troops.'[2]
  • Daniel Kawczynski - 'The Prime Minister will know that some of the regional tensions in the middle east and Syria stem from the mutual hostility and antagonism between Iran and Saudi Arabia.'[1]
  • Edward Leigh - 'I know that the Prime Minister will not want to say this in public now and eat his words, but we have to co-operate with Russia, Assad and the Syrian army if we are to complete a bombing war and look forward to the reconstruction after that.'[1]
  • Julian Lewis - 'I have to say that the suggestion that there are 70,000 non-Islamist, moderate, credible ground forces is a revelation to me and, I suspect, to most other Members in this House.'[2]
  • Peter Lilley - 'I would like him to convince me that what he refers to as the Free Syrian Army actually exists and is not a label that we apply to a rag-bag group of clans and tribal forces with no coherent force.'[2]
  • David Mowat - 'The only apparent source of wealth for ISIL comes from onshore oil fields that do not require precision bombing to take out, yet we have made very little progress on this in the past year.'[1]

Labour Party

  • Graham Allen - 'There are many other strategic issues that need to be resolved, each of which is a harder longer road than deploying five aircraft.'[27]
  • Liam Byrne - 'The truth is that the peshmerga, the Iraqi security forces and the Free Syrian Army will find it difficult to take those cities. If the political leaders are there, will he tell us who they are?'.[1]
  • Jo Cox (with Andrew Mitchell) - 'What is critical in advancing any military component is that the protection of civilians must be at the centre of the mission'.[28]
  • Barry Gardiner - 'Until the Government can guarantee a strong ground presence, does [the Prime Minister] accept that his strategy is one of hope, not confidence?'.[1]
  • Pat McFadden - 'What more can he say to convince the House and the country of his and his Government’s staying power on the diplomatic and political front, particularly at a time when big questions are being asked about Britain’s role in the world and how we see our place in the world?'.[1]
  • Derek Twigg - ' the issue of ground forces, which has been raised by other Members, is key, and today’s statement was weak in that regard.'[2]
  • Keith Vaz - 'an inevitable consequence of our intervention will be that the migration crisis will get much worse'.[2]

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 1.22 1.23 1.24 1.25 1.26 1.27 1.28 1.29 Syria, Hansard, 26 November 2015. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "Hansard26Nov" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "Hansard26Nov" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "Hansard26Nov" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "Hansard26Nov" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "Hansard26Nov" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "Hansard26Nov" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "Hansard26Nov" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "Hansard26Nov" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "Hansard26Nov" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "Hansard26Nov" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "Hansard26Nov" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "Hansard26Nov" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "Hansard26Nov" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "Hansard26Nov" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "Hansard26Nov" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "Hansard26Nov" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "Hansard26Nov" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "Hansard26Nov" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "Hansard26Nov" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "Hansard26Nov" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "Hansard26Nov" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "Hansard26Nov" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "Hansard26Nov" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "Hansard26Nov" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "Hansard26Nov" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "Hansard26Nov" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "Hansard26Nov" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "Hansard26Nov" defined multiple times with different content
  2. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 Syria, Hansard, 26 November 2015. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "Hansard26Nov"" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "Hansard26Nov"" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "Hansard26Nov"" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "Hansard26Nov"" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "Hansard26Nov"" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "Hansard26Nov"" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "Hansard26Nov"" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "Hansard26Nov"" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "Hansard26Nov"" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "Hansard26Nov"" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "Hansard26Nov"" defined multiple times with different content
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 George Eaton, Majority of shadow cabinet back air strikes in Syria but Labour position undecided, New Statesman, 26 November 2015.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 Rowena Mason, Jeremy Corbyn seeks grassroots Labour support for stance against bombing Syria, Guardian, 27 November 2015.
  5. ↑ Caroline Flint: We should look at military action, BBC, 22 November 2015.
  6. ↑ Labour MP Gapes says he will rebel on Syria vote, BBC, 19 November 2015.
  7. ↑ Dan Jarvis, My five tests for backing military action in Syria, The Guardian, 23 November 2015.
  8. ↑ Labour's @leicesterliz is asked whether she will back Syria air strikes in a Commons vote, BBC This Week, Twitter, 20 November 2015.
  9. ↑ Allan Tunningley, HAVE YOUR SAY: Should the UK extend its air campaign to bomb ISIS targets in Syria?, Westmorland Gazette, 19 November 2015.
  10. ↑ The Prime Minister's Proposal to Bomb Syria, Youtube, 27 November 2015.
  11. ↑ Nathalie Raffray, Brent MP Dawn Butler seeks residents’ views on whether to bomb Syria, Brent and Kilburn Times, 24 November 2015.
  12. ↑ Ruth Cadbury MP, Twitter, 23 November 2015.
  13. ↑ Full text of Jeremy Corbyn’s letter to Labour MPs about airstrikes on Syria, Labourlist, 26 November 2015.
  14. ↑ Paul Flynn MP, Twitter, 26 November 2015.
  15. ↑ The World at One, Twitter, 26 November 2015.
  16. ↑ Rowena Mason & Daniel Boffey, Tom Watson backs airstrikes against Isis, joining opposition to Corbyn, The Guardian, 27 November 2015.
  17. ↑ Matt Dathan, Jeremy Corbyn should resign over 'unacceptable' behaviour towards Syria air strikes vote, say senior Labour MPs, Independent, 28 November 2015.
  18. ↑ George Eaton, John McDonnell interview: “We’re going to destroy Osborne’s credibility”, New Statesman, 24 November 2015.
  19. ↑ Gavin Shuker, Twitter, 26 November 2015.
  20. ↑ Jon Stone, Dennis Skinner warns against military intervention in Syria's 'crazy war', Independent, 26 November 2015.
  21. ↑ Wes Streeting MP, Facebook, 27 November 2015.
  22. ↑ Leanne Wood says Plaid Cymru opposes Syria bombing, BBC News, 28 November 2015.
  23. ↑ Richard Burden, UK MILITARY ACTION IN SYRIA – THE ISSUES, richardburden.com, 26 November 2015.
  24. ↑ Sarah Champion MP, Twitter, 26 November 2015.
  25. ↑ Kate wants to hear from you ahead of possible vote on Syria, kategreen.org, 25 November 2015.
  26. ↑ Liz McInnes MP, Twitter, 27 November 2015.
  27. ↑ Graham Allen, Our First Reaction to Atrocities Like Syria Will Always Be to 'Do Something' - But It Is Vital That We Do the Right Thing, Huffington Post, 23 November 2015.
  28. ↑ Andrew Mitchell & Jo Cox, British forces could help achieve an ethical solution in Syria, Guardian, 11 October 2015.
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