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Ministers to rethink war powers Ministers to rethink war powers
(about 1 hour later)
The government has indicated it is prepared to give Parliament the final say over whether Britain goes to war. The government is to bring forward proposals to give Parliament the final say over whether Britain goes to war.
Previous calls to strip prime ministers of war-making powers have been rebuffed - but Gordon Brown has said he backs giving MPs more say over such things.Previous calls to strip prime ministers of war-making powers have been rebuffed - but Gordon Brown has said he backs giving MPs more say over such things.
And in a government amendment to a Tory motion, ministers agreed Parliament's role needed to be more "explicit".And in a government amendment to a Tory motion, ministers agreed Parliament's role needed to be more "explicit".
The Conservatives described the move as a "U-turn" and said ministers had bowed to "strength of feeling" in Parliament.The Conservatives described the move as a "U-turn" and said ministers had bowed to "strength of feeling" in Parliament.
The prime minister can currently go to war without Parliamentary approval, using the Royal Prerogative - although there was a vote on the Iraq war. The prime minister can currently go to war without parliamentary approval, using the Royal Prerogative - although there was a vote on the Iraq war.
Royal Prerogative 'outdated'Royal Prerogative 'outdated'
But reports by the Commons public administration select committee and the Lords committee on the constitution have called for a rethink. Peers said the royal prerogative was outdated and should not be used in a parliamentary democracy. But reports by two parliamentary committees have called for a rethink - one said the Royal Prerogative was outdated and should not be used in a parliamentary democracy.
In November the government rejected calls to give Parliament "war-making powers" and the final say on the deployment of British troops in conflicts, arguing it needed to be able to respond to conflicts quickly.In November the government rejected calls to give Parliament "war-making powers" and the final say on the deployment of British troops in conflicts, arguing it needed to be able to respond to conflicts quickly.
We will now hold them to this commitment, one previously opposed by Tony Blair but which has been wrung from his government in its dying days William HagueWe will now hold them to this commitment, one previously opposed by Tony Blair but which has been wrung from his government in its dying days William Hague
But the Conservatives had tabled a motion for debate on Tuesday, arguing that Parliamentary approval should be required before troops are deployed and urges the government put forward proposals to do so. But the Conservatives tabled a motion for debate, arguing that parliamentary approval should be required.
The government has since added its own amendment, stating that it was "inconceivable" that any future decision would depart from the precedent set by the Iraq War vote. The government has since added its own amendment, stating that it was "inconceivable" that any future decision would depart from the precedent set by the Iraq war vote.
However it added: "The time has come for Parliament's role to be made more explicit in approving (or otherwise) decisions of Her Majesty's Government relating to the major or substantial deployment of British forces overseas into actual or potential armed conflict."However it added: "The time has come for Parliament's role to be made more explicit in approving (or otherwise) decisions of Her Majesty's Government relating to the major or substantial deployment of British forces overseas into actual or potential armed conflict."
It says there is a "paramount need" not to risk the safety of British forces or commanders' operational discretion, but calls for detailed proposals.It says there is a "paramount need" not to risk the safety of British forces or commanders' operational discretion, but calls for detailed proposals.
Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague said: "We will now hold them to this commitment, one previously opposed by Tony Blair but which has been wrung from his government in its dying days. Leader of the Commons Jack Straw also told MPs it was time to formalise the precedent set by Iraq and promised consultation on the matter.
"Such major decisions on major military deployments must have democratic legitimacy, and the ability of Parliament to challenge and scrutinise government decisions must be strengthened." Shadow foreign secretary William Hague said: "We will now hold them to this commitment, one previously opposed by Tony Blair but which has been wrung from his government in its dying days."
Gordon Brown, the favourite to succeed Mr Blair as prime minister, has indicated he would be in favour of giving Parliament such powers. He added that there was "widespread concern that the power of Parliament to influence government decisions has become weaker over the years and that this trend needs to be reversed".
M Brown, the favourite to succeed Mr Blair as prime minister, has indicated he would be in favour of giving Parliament such powers.