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Cabinet frustration over Syria vote as Cameron misreads Tory party's mood Cabinet frustration over Syria vote as Cameron misreads Tory party's mood
(21 days later)
The mood in the cabinet late on Thursday night was dark, though not desperate, after David Cameron lost a government motion on the Syrian crisis in the Commons.The mood in the cabinet late on Thursday night was dark, though not desperate, after David Cameron lost a government motion on the Syrian crisis in the Commons.
Ministers expressed deep frustration that the prime minister had misread the mood of his party – and the country – after recalling parliament on such an unpopular and contentious issue.Ministers expressed deep frustration that the prime minister had misread the mood of his party – and the country – after recalling parliament on such an unpopular and contentious issue.
"I hadn't come across anyone who supported this military operation until I turned up to cabinet this morning," one minister said."I hadn't come across anyone who supported this military operation until I turned up to cabinet this morning," one minister said.
Other ministers said they were exasperated that Downing Street had managed to revive the political fortunes of Ed Miliband so soon after he faced a whispering campaign from his own side. "How we managed to rescue Ed Miliband is beyond me," one minister said.Other ministers said they were exasperated that Downing Street had managed to revive the political fortunes of Ed Miliband so soon after he faced a whispering campaign from his own side. "How we managed to rescue Ed Miliband is beyond me," one minister said.
The magnitude of the government defeat was underlined when Sir Menzies Campbell, the former leader of the Liberal Democrats, said he could not recall a government in the modern era suffering a defeat on a major foreign policy issue.The magnitude of the government defeat was underlined when Sir Menzies Campbell, the former leader of the Liberal Democrats, said he could not recall a government in the modern era suffering a defeat on a major foreign policy issue.
But Downing Street made clear that it would fight off any attempt by Labour to bring down the prime minister by tabling a no-confidence motion, as Margaret Thatcher did in March 1979 after Jim Callaghan's Labour lost a devolution referendum in Scotland. One No 10 source said: "Our rebels are making clear that they support the prime minister on the economy and on his education and welfare reforms. They just did not support him on Syria."But Downing Street made clear that it would fight off any attempt by Labour to bring down the prime minister by tabling a no-confidence motion, as Margaret Thatcher did in March 1979 after Jim Callaghan's Labour lost a devolution referendum in Scotland. One No 10 source said: "Our rebels are making clear that they support the prime minister on the economy and on his education and welfare reforms. They just did not support him on Syria."
One cabinet minister said: "Obviously this is the prime minister's worst moment in Downing Street. But he has effectively lost a consultative vote. Had he lost a vote committing our armed forces on going to war – the sort of vote Tony Blair won in 2003 – then you would be in no-confidence -vote territory. We are not in that territory so the government carries on."One cabinet minister said: "Obviously this is the prime minister's worst moment in Downing Street. But he has effectively lost a consultative vote. Had he lost a vote committing our armed forces on going to war – the sort of vote Tony Blair won in 2003 – then you would be in no-confidence -vote territory. We are not in that territory so the government carries on."
But Tories at all levels of the party are asking hard questions about Downing Street's understanding of the parliamentary party. One cabinet minister said No 10 had known for days it was in trouble and said Nick Clegg bore some responsibility after a poor winding up of the debate.But Tories at all levels of the party are asking hard questions about Downing Street's understanding of the parliamentary party. One cabinet minister said No 10 had known for days it was in trouble and said Nick Clegg bore some responsibility after a poor winding up of the debate.
"Nick Clegg was absolutely dreadful," the minister said. "I don't think he has ever wound up a debate. He lost a good few votes. It would have been so much better if William Hague had wound up for us.""Nick Clegg was absolutely dreadful," the minister said. "I don't think he has ever wound up a debate. He lost a good few votes. It would have been so much better if William Hague had wound up for us."
Another minister said Downing Street was blind-sided by the depth of opposition to any military involvement in Syria among Tories. Government sources had indicated earlier in the week that they did not see any problem with Downing Street's plan to table an even tougher motion – to authorise British involvement in military strikes against the Assad regime.Another minister said Downing Street was blind-sided by the depth of opposition to any military involvement in Syria among Tories. Government sources had indicated earlier in the week that they did not see any problem with Downing Street's plan to table an even tougher motion – to authorise British involvement in military strikes against the Assad regime.
The sources said they were confident of Tory backbench support on the grounds that MPs had expected that they would only be recalled from their summer recess to vote on a bigger commitment to take part in a major air or ground military campaign or to arm the Syrian rebels.The sources said they were confident of Tory backbench support on the grounds that MPs had expected that they would only be recalled from their summer recess to vote on a bigger commitment to take part in a major air or ground military campaign or to arm the Syrian rebels.
This calculation fell apart when Miliband made clear that he was prepared to become the first leader of the opposition since the Suez crisis to mount a direct challenge to a prime minister on a planned overseas British military operation. Miliband knew he had strong numbers as scores of Tory MPs made clear they had grave reservations.This calculation fell apart when Miliband made clear that he was prepared to become the first leader of the opposition since the Suez crisis to mount a direct challenge to a prime minister on a planned overseas British military operation. Miliband knew he had strong numbers as scores of Tory MPs made clear they had grave reservations.
Even as Cameron addressed his troops at midday Downing Street was convinced that it would win as aides made clear that the prime minister had won round MPs. The prime minister managed a strong performance in the commons as he claimed that the Labour amendment had "deficiencies" because it failed to mention that the attack to the east of Damascus, which prompted the crisis, had involved chemical weapons.Even as Cameron addressed his troops at midday Downing Street was convinced that it would win as aides made clear that the prime minister had won round MPs. The prime minister managed a strong performance in the commons as he claimed that the Labour amendment had "deficiencies" because it failed to mention that the attack to the east of Damascus, which prompted the crisis, had involved chemical weapons.
Miliband put in one of his less impressive performances which alarmed some of his senior colleagues. "It all feels a bit odd," one Labour frontbencher said.Miliband put in one of his less impressive performances which alarmed some of his senior colleagues. "It all feels a bit odd," one Labour frontbencher said.
The Labour leadership sensed the government was in trouble after Clegg's halting performance in the final minutes of the debate. "This is a defining moment for Clegg," one senior Labour figure said. Minutes later it turned out that it would also be such a moment for the prime minister and the coalition.The Labour leadership sensed the government was in trouble after Clegg's halting performance in the final minutes of the debate. "This is a defining moment for Clegg," one senior Labour figure said. Minutes later it turned out that it would also be such a moment for the prime minister and the coalition.
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