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

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===Conservative Party===
 
===Conservative Party===
 
*[[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.'<ref name=Hansard26Nov">[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201516/cmhansrd/cm151126/debtext/151126-0001.htm#15112625000002 Syria], Hansard, 26 November 2015.</ref>
 
*[[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.'<ref name=Hansard26Nov">[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201516/cmhansrd/cm151126/debtext/151126-0001.htm#15112625000002 Syria], Hansard, 26 November 2015.</ref>
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*[[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.'<ref name=Hansard26Nov">[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201516/cmhansrd/cm151126/debtext/151126-0001.htm#15112625000002 Syria], Hansard, 26 November 2015.</ref>
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*[[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.'<ref name=Hansard26Nov">[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201516/cmhansrd/cm151126/debtext/151126-0001.htm#15112625000002 Syria], Hansard, 26 November 2015.</ref>
  
 
===Labour Party===
 
===Labour Party===

Revision as of 15:45, 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.

  • David Cameron - 'The reason for acting is the very direct threat that ISIL poses to our country and to our way of life.'[1]
  • Crispin Blunt - 'the United Kingdom should play a full role in the coalition.'[1]
  • Kenneth Clarke - 'The Prime Minister has made a compelling case for playing a proper part'.[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]
  • Liam Fox - 'The question is whether we confront them over there or, increasingly, take the risk of having to confront them over here.'[1]

Labour Party

Most 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.[2]
  • Hilary Benn - 'leaning in favour of military action' - Guardian.[3]
  • Vernon Coaker - 'argued for intervention' - New Statesman.[2]
  • Michael Dugher - 'spoke up on Thursday in support of military action' - Guardian.[3]
  • Angela Eagle - 'argued for intervention' - New Statesman.[2]
  • Caroline Flint - ' told the Sunday Politics she believes there can be a case for British military intervention in Syria' - BBC.[4]
  • Mike Gapes - 'said he is prepared to rebel against the party leadership over UK air strikes in Syria' BBC.[5]
  • Liz Kendall 'I would support it' given commitments on reconstruction etc.[6]
  • Lucy Powell - 'spoke up on Thursday in support of military action' - Guardian.[3]
  • Tom Watson - 'leaning in favour of military action' - Guardian.[3]
  • John Woodcock - "This new attack should prompt the government and all political parties to look afresh at the case for extending the air campaign".[7]

DUP

  • Nigel Dodds - 'If it protects our people, here and abroad, we must act'.[1]

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.[2]
  • Richard Burgon - 'I'm not persuaded'.[8]
  • Dawn Butler - States 'my fear is that bombs will make things worse, not better' but adds 'My mind is not closed on this.'[9]
  • Ruth Cadbury - 'As a Quaker, this is a matter of conscience for me, and I will therefore not support military action in Syria.'[10]
  • Jeremy Corbyn - 'In my view, the Prime Minister has been unable to explain the contribution of additional UK bombing'.[11]
  • John Cryer - Supported Corbyn in Shadow Cabinet - New Statesman.[2]
  • Paul Flynn - 'absurd policy that will increase terrorist recruits'.[12]
  • Roger Godsiff - "What I'm not convinced of is dropping more bombs on Syria is going to add anything to the defeat of ISIS"[13]
  • Nia Griffith - 'against Cameron's plan' - Guardian.[14]
  • Fiona Mactaggart - 'agrees with [Corbyn] in opposing British intervention in Syria' - Independent.[15]
  • John McDonnell - "I’m still in a situation where I’ve expressed the view that I’m opposed to the bombing campaign or engagement."[16]
  • 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'.[17]
  • Dennis Skinner - 'Skinner has warned of the perils of Britain intervening in the Syrian civil war' - Independent.[18]
  • Wes Streeting - ' I fear we will be inevitably drawn into a quagmire.'[19]
  • Emily Thornberry
  • Jon Trickett - Supported Corbyn in Shadow Cabinet - New Statesman.[2]
  • David Winnick - 'would military action help to defeat ISIS? I happen to believe that the answer is no.'[1]

SNP

The SNP are expected to vote against airstrikes.[2]

  • 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]

Liberal Democrats

The Liberal Democrats are expected to vote against airstrikes.[2]

Plaid Cymru

Plaid Cymru's 3 MPs are expected vote against military action.[20]

MPs said to be undecided

  • Chris Bryant
  • 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."[21]
  • Andy Burnham - 'understood to be undecided about how to vote' - Guardian.[3]
  • Sarah Champion - 'I've not decided either way!'[22]
  • Yvette Cooper - 'understood to be undecided about how to vote' - Guardian.[3]
  • Kate Green - 'Kate will be holding a number of events to meet and hear from constituents this weekend'[23]
  • Liz McInnes - 'I'm still weighing up the evidence'.[24]

Other relevant comments from MPs

Conservative Party

  • 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.'[1]
  • 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.'[1]
  • 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.'[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.'[25]
  • 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'.[26]

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 Syria, Hansard, 26 November 2015.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 George Eaton, Majority of shadow cabinet back air strikes in Syria but Labour position undecided, New Statesman, 26 November 2015.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Rowena Mason, Jeremy Corbyn seeks grassroots Labour support for stance against bombing Syria, Guardian, 27 November 2015.
  4. ↑ Caroline Flint: We should look at military action, BBC, 22 November 2015.
  5. ↑ Labour MP Gapes says he will rebel on Syria vote, BBC, 19 November 2015.
  6. ↑ Labour's @leicesterliz is asked whether she will back Syria air strikes in a Commons vote, BBC This Week, Twitter, 20 November 2015.
  7. ↑ Allan Tunningley, HAVE YOUR SAY: Should the UK extend its air campaign to bomb ISIS targets in Syria?, Westmorland Gazette, 19 November 2015.
  8. ↑ The Prime Minister's Proposal to Bomb Syria, Youtube, 27 November 2015.
  9. ↑ Nathalie Raffray, Brent MP Dawn Butler seeks residents’ views on whether to bomb Syria, Brent and Kilburn Times, 24 November 2015.
  10. ↑ Ruth Cadbury MP, Twitter, 23 November 2015.
  11. ↑ Full text of Jeremy Corbyn’s letter to Labour MPs about airstrikes on Syria, Labourlist, 26 November 2015.
  12. ↑ Paul Flynn MP, Twitter, 26 November 2015.
  13. ↑ The World at One, Twitter, 26 November 2015.
  14. ↑ Rowena Mason & Daniel Boffey, Tom Watson backs airstrikes against Isis, joining opposition to Corbyn, The Guardian, 27 November 2015.
  15. ↑ Matt Dathan, Jeremy Corbyn should resign over 'unacceptable' behaviour towards Syria air strikes vote, say senior Labour MPs, Independent, 28 November 2015.
  16. ↑ George Eaton, John McDonnell interview: “We’re going to destroy Osborne’s credibility”, New Statesman, 24 November 2015.
  17. ↑ Gavin Shuker, Twitter, 26 November 2015.
  18. ↑ Jon Stone, Dennis Skinner warns against military intervention in Syria's 'crazy war', Independent, 26 November 2015.
  19. ↑ Wes Streeting MP, Facebook, 27 November 2015.
  20. ↑ Leanne Wood says Plaid Cymru opposes Syria bombing, BBC News, 28 November 2015.
  21. ↑ Richard Burden, UK MILITARY ACTION IN SYRIA – THE ISSUES, richardburden.com, 26 November 2015.
  22. ↑ Sarah Champion MP, Twitter, 26 November 2015.
  23. ↑ Kate wants to hear from you ahead of possible vote on Syria, kategreen.org, 25 November 2015.
  24. ↑ Liz McInnes MP, Twitter, 27 November 2015.
  25. ↑ 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.
  26. ↑ Andrwew Mitchell & Jo Cox, British forces could help achieve an ethical solution in Syria, Guardian, 11 October 2015.
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