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Diane Abbott could quit if Labour backs strikes on Syria Diane Abbott could quit if Labour backs strikes on Syria
(25 days later)
Diane Abbott may be forced to quit Labour's frontbench if Ed Miliband supports military action in Syria, as one of several MPs who are weighing up whether to support their party leaders over the anticipated intervention.Diane Abbott may be forced to quit Labour's frontbench if Ed Miliband supports military action in Syria, as one of several MPs who are weighing up whether to support their party leaders over the anticipated intervention.
The high-profile shadow minister said she would be in a "very difficult position" if Labour supported the use of force in Syria in the emergency vote planned for Thursday.The high-profile shadow minister said she would be in a "very difficult position" if Labour supported the use of force in Syria in the emergency vote planned for Thursday.
Abbott, a former Labour leadership candidate, told the Guardian she has not firmly made up her mind, but she is currently opposed to an intervention based on the available evidence.Abbott, a former Labour leadership candidate, told the Guardian she has not firmly made up her mind, but she is currently opposed to an intervention based on the available evidence.
"I voted against the Iraq War. At the moment, I can't see anything that would make me vote for intervention in Syria," she said."I voted against the Iraq War. At the moment, I can't see anything that would make me vote for intervention in Syria," she said.
"Essentially it's a civil war. What Libya and Egypt have taught us is that these situations in the Middle East are complex. It's not good guys in white hats and bad guys in black hats.""Essentially it's a civil war. What Libya and Egypt have taught us is that these situations in the Middle East are complex. It's not good guys in white hats and bad guys in black hats."
Asked whether she would resign from the frontbench if Labour supported military action, Abbott said: "It would put me in a very difficult position."Asked whether she would resign from the frontbench if Labour supported military action, Abbott said: "It would put me in a very difficult position."
If Labour joins the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats in backing the use of force all three leaders will face some heated resistance from within their own parties to the use of so-called surgical military strikes.If Labour joins the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats in backing the use of force all three leaders will face some heated resistance from within their own parties to the use of so-called surgical military strikes.
However, David Cameron is expected to have enough backing to win the vote, which will carry a compulsory three-line whip for coalition MPs to vote with their leaders.However, David Cameron is expected to have enough backing to win the vote, which will carry a compulsory three-line whip for coalition MPs to vote with their leaders.
Labour is still considering whether to back the coalition's position but Miliband has signalled he may be prepared to support an intervention with a clear strategy and legal basis.Labour is still considering whether to back the coalition's position but Miliband has signalled he may be prepared to support an intervention with a clear strategy and legal basis.
Abbot was one of a number of MPs who on Tuesday expressed their concern about the UK getting involved in another conflict without the backing of the UN.Abbot was one of a number of MPs who on Tuesday expressed their concern about the UK getting involved in another conflict without the backing of the UN.
She quoted Colin Powell, the former US secretary of state, whose "Pottery Barn rule" warns that "you broke it, you own it".She quoted Colin Powell, the former US secretary of state, whose "Pottery Barn rule" warns that "you broke it, you own it".
"If you make a military intervention in Syria, you have to take ownership of the situation," she said. "I think it would be wrong … I wouldn't support anything that wasn't legal and the only legal way would be UN backing.""If you make a military intervention in Syria, you have to take ownership of the situation," she said. "I think it would be wrong … I wouldn't support anything that wasn't legal and the only legal way would be UN backing."
Dozens of Tory MPs are also uneasy about the prospect of the UK taking action in Syria. John Baron, who led a group of 81 Conservative MPs urging a debate before sending arms to Syria, said he believed the vote would be "closer than it was over the Iraq war".Dozens of Tory MPs are also uneasy about the prospect of the UK taking action in Syria. John Baron, who led a group of 81 Conservative MPs urging a debate before sending arms to Syria, said he believed the vote would be "closer than it was over the Iraq war".
Sarah Wollaston, MP for Totnes, said she planned to vote against any military action because it "could explode a proxy war into global conflict", while Nick de Bois, MP for Enfield North and secretary of the backbench 1922 committee, said he was sceptical about the idea.Sarah Wollaston, MP for Totnes, said she planned to vote against any military action because it "could explode a proxy war into global conflict", while Nick de Bois, MP for Enfield North and secretary of the backbench 1922 committee, said he was sceptical about the idea.
John Redwood, a former Conservative cabinet minister, said many of his colleagues "need persuading that there is any military intervention which the UK could make which would make it better".John Redwood, a former Conservative cabinet minister, said many of his colleagues "need persuading that there is any military intervention which the UK could make which would make it better".
A number of Liberal Democrats, whose party was the only one to oppose the Iraq war, are also yet to be fully convinced. Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrat president, said there was a moral case for intervention but he would be prepared to oppose action if he thought it would "make a dreadful situation worse".A number of Liberal Democrats, whose party was the only one to oppose the Iraq war, are also yet to be fully convinced. Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrat president, said there was a moral case for intervention but he would be prepared to oppose action if he thought it would "make a dreadful situation worse".
Other MPs, including Harriet Harman, the Labour deputy leader, and Tracey Crouch, a Tory MP, appealed on Twitter for their constituents to help them to make up their minds.Other MPs, including Harriet Harman, the Labour deputy leader, and Tracey Crouch, a Tory MP, appealed on Twitter for their constituents to help them to make up their minds.
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