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| Syria: coalition MPs defy Cameron and Clegg's call for military action | Syria: coalition MPs defy Cameron and Clegg's call for military action |
| (21 days later) | |
| MPs dramatically rejected a military attack on Syria on Thursday night just minutes after Nick Clegg failed to rule out letting the US use British bases to launch missiles. | MPs dramatically rejected a military attack on Syria on Thursday night just minutes after Nick Clegg failed to rule out letting the US use British bases to launch missiles. |
| Thirty nine coalition MPs voted against their leaders, as they failed to be persuaded by the deputy prime minister's last-ditch attempt to win round dissenters. | Thirty nine coalition MPs voted against their leaders, as they failed to be persuaded by the deputy prime minister's last-ditch attempt to win round dissenters. |
| Only hours earlier, Downing Street sources had briefed there was "overwhelming" support for a strike on Syria when David Cameron addressed a private Conservative party meeting at midday. After Cameron made his case to MPs just after 2.30pm, aides then briefed that they were "very confident" of winning the argument that military action was necessary to deter Syria from further use of chemical weapons. | Only hours earlier, Downing Street sources had briefed there was "overwhelming" support for a strike on Syria when David Cameron addressed a private Conservative party meeting at midday. After Cameron made his case to MPs just after 2.30pm, aides then briefed that they were "very confident" of winning the argument that military action was necessary to deter Syria from further use of chemical weapons. |
| During the stormy eight-hour debate, the prime minister was backed by many senior Tories, who urged their colleagues not to let "Iraq-panic paralyse the country". | During the stormy eight-hour debate, the prime minister was backed by many senior Tories, who urged their colleagues not to let "Iraq-panic paralyse the country". |
| But the spectre of the 2003 war hung heavily over the Commons as dozens of MPs made it clear they were not satisfied with the intelligence used to justify an attack. | But the spectre of the 2003 war hung heavily over the Commons as dozens of MPs made it clear they were not satisfied with the intelligence used to justify an attack. |
| Early estimates suggested 30 Tories rebelled and another 31 did not vote, while nine Liberal Democrats voted no and 14 did not vote, despite a compulsory three-line whip to vote with the coalition. This led to a government defeat by just 13 votes. The news appeared to take Cameron, the party whips, and coalition ministers, by complete surprise. Gasps went round the chamber as the vote was read out and the prime minister was met with calls of "resign" from the opposition benches. | Early estimates suggested 30 Tories rebelled and another 31 did not vote, while nine Liberal Democrats voted no and 14 did not vote, despite a compulsory three-line whip to vote with the coalition. This led to a government defeat by just 13 votes. The news appeared to take Cameron, the party whips, and coalition ministers, by complete surprise. Gasps went round the chamber as the vote was read out and the prime minister was met with calls of "resign" from the opposition benches. |
| Senior Tories privately put some of the blame on Clegg, the Liberal Democrat leader, who was left the task of summing up the debate. | Senior Tories privately put some of the blame on Clegg, the Liberal Democrat leader, who was left the task of summing up the debate. |
| He promised parliament would get another vote if there were any direct military engagement by British forces. But when asked by Labour MPs about the US use of British military bases, he fudged the response. "The only decision which we envisage needs to be taken is about direct military action in American-led operations," he said. Asked again whether he would rule out the use of British bases, Clegg said: "We have not been presented with any scenario." | He promised parliament would get another vote if there were any direct military engagement by British forces. But when asked by Labour MPs about the US use of British military bases, he fudged the response. "The only decision which we envisage needs to be taken is about direct military action in American-led operations," he said. Asked again whether he would rule out the use of British bases, Clegg said: "We have not been presented with any scenario." |
| Despite the mutterings over Clegg's performance in the last half hour, a huge number of MPs, including many from Cameron's own party, had already picked holes in the coalition's case. Some wanted more intelligence to be published before making a decision, others wanted a clearer military strategy. A number simply did not want to be involved in "mission creep" that would drag Britain further into a war in the Middle East. | Despite the mutterings over Clegg's performance in the last half hour, a huge number of MPs, including many from Cameron's own party, had already picked holes in the coalition's case. Some wanted more intelligence to be published before making a decision, others wanted a clearer military strategy. A number simply did not want to be involved in "mission creep" that would drag Britain further into a war in the Middle East. |
| Leading the critics was David Davis, a former Tory leadership candidate, who suggested "rogue elements" in the Syrian army or the rebels could have carried out the chemical attack. | Leading the critics was David Davis, a former Tory leadership candidate, who suggested "rogue elements" in the Syrian army or the rebels could have carried out the chemical attack. |
| "We must consider … that our intelligence as it stands might just be wrong because it was before and we have got to be very, very hard in testing it," he said. | "We must consider … that our intelligence as it stands might just be wrong because it was before and we have got to be very, very hard in testing it," he said. |
| A number of veteran Conservative right-wingers put forward isolationist arguments and suggested the west was better off with Bashar al-Assad than the revolutionaries. | A number of veteran Conservative right-wingers put forward isolationist arguments and suggested the west was better off with Bashar al-Assad than the revolutionaries. |
| Sir Edward Leigh, a former minister, gave a scathing speech urging the prime minister not to follow the US into "this foolish gesture". He correctly predicted there would be no second vote for a military strike because the "parliamentary arithmetic does not stack up". | Sir Edward Leigh, a former minister, gave a scathing speech urging the prime minister not to follow the US into "this foolish gesture". He correctly predicted there would be no second vote for a military strike because the "parliamentary arithmetic does not stack up". |
| Meanwhile, Sir Richard Shepherd, a Conservative MP for 34 years, said he was a "victim of past dossiers" and wanted more proof. | Meanwhile, Sir Richard Shepherd, a Conservative MP for 34 years, said he was a "victim of past dossiers" and wanted more proof. |
| A string of other sceptics repeatedly used the word "unconvinced". Julian Lewis, the Tory MP for New Forest East, urged colleagues to see a "worrying parallel" with the start of the first world war. | A string of other sceptics repeatedly used the word "unconvinced". Julian Lewis, the Tory MP for New Forest East, urged colleagues to see a "worrying parallel" with the start of the first world war. |
| "This is a powder keg and we should not be lobbing weapons into the heart of such combustible material," he said. | "This is a powder keg and we should not be lobbing weapons into the heart of such combustible material," he said. |
| Peter Lilley, a Conservative former minister, said he also harboured fears that "military action will unleash pressures to be further involved". Another former Tory minister, John Redwood, branded Assad a "mad and bad" ruler who would not be deterred by a few Tomahawk missiles. | Peter Lilley, a Conservative former minister, said he also harboured fears that "military action will unleash pressures to be further involved". Another former Tory minister, John Redwood, branded Assad a "mad and bad" ruler who would not be deterred by a few Tomahawk missiles. |
| Many coalition MPs had promised to support Cameron last night but signalled they would probably not have backed a specific strike against Syria at a later date. Their remarks suggested Cameron would have lost by a much bigger margin if he had tried to get parliament to approve an actual military intervention before this weekend, as originally planned. | Many coalition MPs had promised to support Cameron last night but signalled they would probably not have backed a specific strike against Syria at a later date. Their remarks suggested Cameron would have lost by a much bigger margin if he had tried to get parliament to approve an actual military intervention before this weekend, as originally planned. |
| Cheryl Gillan, a former Welsh secretary under Cameron, said she was in this position, and did not "have enough accurate or verifiable information to support direct UK military action in Syria." Recalling the vote on Iraq, she said she "cannot sit in this House and be duped again". | Cheryl Gillan, a former Welsh secretary under Cameron, said she was in this position, and did not "have enough accurate or verifiable information to support direct UK military action in Syria." Recalling the vote on Iraq, she said she "cannot sit in this House and be duped again". |
| Lorely Burt, a former Lib Dem parliamentary chairman, said the motion suggested MPs were being "softened up" for a strike, while her colleague Sarah Teather, a former coalition minister, said she would vote "no" because she did not believe "the case has been made successfully, either practically or ethically". | Lorely Burt, a former Lib Dem parliamentary chairman, said the motion suggested MPs were being "softened up" for a strike, while her colleague Sarah Teather, a former coalition minister, said she would vote "no" because she did not believe "the case has been made successfully, either practically or ethically". |
| Even some of Cameron's staunchest backers urged him to make a better case and pursue the UN route more fully during the debate. Richard Ottaway, the supportive Tory chairman of the foreign affairs committee, called for more intelligence evidence beyond the "bare bones" released so far. | Even some of Cameron's staunchest backers urged him to make a better case and pursue the UN route more fully during the debate. Richard Ottaway, the supportive Tory chairman of the foreign affairs committee, called for more intelligence evidence beyond the "bare bones" released so far. |
| Labour made it clear during the debate that it would only back military action if the conditions of its alternative motion were met. These caveats included waiting for the verdict of the weapons inspectors and more UN involvement. However, the party's more cautious amendment was also defeated heavily by 332 to 220 votes. | Labour made it clear during the debate that it would only back military action if the conditions of its alternative motion were met. These caveats included waiting for the verdict of the weapons inspectors and more UN involvement. However, the party's more cautious amendment was also defeated heavily by 332 to 220 votes. |
| It was also the only party to lose a frontbencher during the battle, as Jim Fitzpatrick resigned as a shadow transport minister in protest at the suggestion of "any military intervention, full stop". | It was also the only party to lose a frontbencher during the battle, as Jim Fitzpatrick resigned as a shadow transport minister in protest at the suggestion of "any military intervention, full stop". |
| As they questioned the government's strategy, many Labour backbenchers referred back to their anguish over the Iraq war. David Lammy, Labour MP for Tottenham, said he feared a "slow creep that will place the lives of more weary members of our armed services at risk". | As they questioned the government's strategy, many Labour backbenchers referred back to their anguish over the Iraq war. David Lammy, Labour MP for Tottenham, said he feared a "slow creep that will place the lives of more weary members of our armed services at risk". |
| He said: "Iraq is not a reason to absent ourselves from responsibility but it is a reason to evoke caution. Parliament cannot vote on pure sentiment. We need to vote on specifics." | He said: "Iraq is not a reason to absent ourselves from responsibility but it is a reason to evoke caution. Parliament cannot vote on pure sentiment. We need to vote on specifics." |
| In a sign of the divisive nature of the issue, other Labour MPs, such as Meg Munn, argued strongly for intervention to stop the growing humanitarian crisis in Syria. | In a sign of the divisive nature of the issue, other Labour MPs, such as Meg Munn, argued strongly for intervention to stop the growing humanitarian crisis in Syria. |
| The most thunderous intervention came from George Galloway, the former Labour MP, now of the Respect Party, who accused the government of being intent on regime change and accused some Syrian rebels of chopping out the hearts of their victims. He said only 11% of Britons backed becoming involved in a war in Syria. | The most thunderous intervention came from George Galloway, the former Labour MP, now of the Respect Party, who accused the government of being intent on regime change and accused some Syrian rebels of chopping out the hearts of their victims. He said only 11% of Britons backed becoming involved in a war in Syria. |
| Diane Abbott, a shadow minister, also gave a rousing speech about lack of public support for military action, signalling she would be prepared to resign if necessary if it came to a military strike. | Diane Abbott, a shadow minister, also gave a rousing speech about lack of public support for military action, signalling she would be prepared to resign if necessary if it came to a military strike. |
| She congratulated MPs for forcing Cameron to "step back from the brink" of bombing Syria this weekend, saying "the British public have seen that movie and know how it ends".Shortly before 10.30pm, the prime minister himself accepted that point. "It is clear to me that the British parliament, reflecting the views of the British people, does not want to see British military action. I get that and the government will act accordingly," he said. | She congratulated MPs for forcing Cameron to "step back from the brink" of bombing Syria this weekend, saying "the British public have seen that movie and know how it ends".Shortly before 10.30pm, the prime minister himself accepted that point. "It is clear to me that the British parliament, reflecting the views of the British people, does not want to see British military action. I get that and the government will act accordingly," he said. |
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