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| George Osborne: UK should not turn its back on world after Syria vote | George Osborne: UK should not turn its back on world after Syria vote |
| (21 days later) | |
| Britain will have to do some "soul-searching" about its role in the world after David Cameron's defeat in the Commons vote over Syria, the chancellor, George Osborne, has said. | Britain will have to do some "soul-searching" about its role in the world after David Cameron's defeat in the Commons vote over Syria, the chancellor, George Osborne, has said. |
| The morning after MPs voted not to join the US in a military attack in what was seen as a humiliating defeat for the prime minister, Osborne said he hoped this was not "the moment where we turn our back on the world's problems". | The morning after MPs voted not to join the US in a military attack in what was seen as a humiliating defeat for the prime minister, Osborne said he hoped this was not "the moment where we turn our back on the world's problems". |
| Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, the chancellor said people should not exaggerate the impact on how the UK is seen internationally, as MPs voted just two years ago to take military action in Libya. | Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, the chancellor said people should not exaggerate the impact on how the UK is seen internationally, as MPs voted just two years ago to take military action in Libya. |
| Osborne also said the White House, which may now press ahead with strikes alone, had shown a lot of understanding. However, he acknowledged it could place a strain on the "special relationship" between Britain and the US. | Osborne also said the White House, which may now press ahead with strikes alone, had shown a lot of understanding. However, he acknowledged it could place a strain on the "special relationship" between Britain and the US. |
| "I think there will be a national soul-searching about our role in the world and whether Britain wants to play a big part in upholding the international system, be that a big open and trading nation that I'd like us to be or whether we turn our back on that," he said. | "I think there will be a national soul-searching about our role in the world and whether Britain wants to play a big part in upholding the international system, be that a big open and trading nation that I'd like us to be or whether we turn our back on that," he said. |
| "I understand the deep scepticism that my colleagues in parliament and many members of the public have about British involvement in Syria. I hope this doesn't become the moment where we turn our back on the world's problems." | "I understand the deep scepticism that my colleagues in parliament and many members of the public have about British involvement in Syria. I hope this doesn't become the moment where we turn our back on the world's problems." |
| The chancellor defended Cameron's efforts to seek consensus and confirmed there would not be any military action in Syria after the government motion was lost by 13 votes. | The chancellor defended Cameron's efforts to seek consensus and confirmed there would not be any military action in Syria after the government motion was lost by 13 votes. |
| About 30 Tory MPs and nine Liberal Democrats rebelled against their leaders to reject military intervention, which Cameron had said was necessary to stop the regime of Bashar al-Assad using chemical weapons against his people. | About 30 Tory MPs and nine Liberal Democrats rebelled against their leaders to reject military intervention, which Cameron had said was necessary to stop the regime of Bashar al-Assad using chemical weapons against his people. |
| During the debate, many questioned the intelligence used to justify an attack and called for the prime minister to make a better case. | During the debate, many questioned the intelligence used to justify an attack and called for the prime minister to make a better case. |
| Ed Miliband, the Labour leader, said his party had not ruled out backing a strike but Cameron's "reckless and cavalier" approach had lost him support. However, he also came in for strong criticism for his role in blocking the vote. | Ed Miliband, the Labour leader, said his party had not ruled out backing a strike but Cameron's "reckless and cavalier" approach had lost him support. However, he also came in for strong criticism for his role in blocking the vote. |
| Lord Ashdown, the former Lib Dem leader, said he had "never been so depressed and ashamed of his country" for failing to step into the Syrian conflict. | Lord Ashdown, the former Lib Dem leader, said he had "never been so depressed and ashamed of his country" for failing to step into the Syrian conflict. |
| Britain's failure to intervene over the use of chemical weapons put it "in danger of plunging into isolationism" and will cheer Russia's president Putin, Syria's Assad and Nigel Farage of Ukip, he said. | Britain's failure to intervene over the use of chemical weapons put it "in danger of plunging into isolationism" and will cheer Russia's president Putin, Syria's Assad and Nigel Farage of Ukip, he said. |
| Jack Straw, foreign secretary at the time of the Iraq war, took a less dramatic view. | Jack Straw, foreign secretary at the time of the Iraq war, took a less dramatic view. |
| "It is not that Britain has become isolationist," he said. "It is the failure of the case, not the failure of Britain's place in the world." | "It is not that Britain has become isolationist," he said. "It is the failure of the case, not the failure of Britain's place in the world." |
| Whatever the international implications for Britain, the vote was seen as a devastating blow to Cameron's authority at home. | Whatever the international implications for Britain, the vote was seen as a devastating blow to Cameron's authority at home. |
| He lost a government motion by 272 votes to 285 – an opposition majority of 13 – leading to calls of "resign" as the results were read out by the Speaker. | He lost a government motion by 272 votes to 285 – an opposition majority of 13 – leading to calls of "resign" as the results were read out by the Speaker. |
| Cameron said within minutes of the result that the government would respect the decision of parliament, meaning Britain will not take part in military strikes against the Assad regime. | Cameron said within minutes of the result that the government would respect the decision of parliament, meaning Britain will not take part in military strikes against the Assad regime. |
| Asked by Miliband for an assurance that he would not use the royal prerogative to sanction British involvement in the proposed US-led military action, Cameron told MPs: "I can give that assurance. Let me say, the House has not voted for either motion tonight. I strongly believe in the need for a tough response to the use of chemical weapons, but I also believe in respecting the will of this House of Commons. | Asked by Miliband for an assurance that he would not use the royal prerogative to sanction British involvement in the proposed US-led military action, Cameron told MPs: "I can give that assurance. Let me say, the House has not voted for either motion tonight. I strongly believe in the need for a tough response to the use of chemical weapons, but I also believe in respecting the will of this House of Commons. |
| "It is very clear tonight that, while the House has not passed a motion, 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." | "It is very clear tonight that, while the House has not passed a motion, 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." |
| Michael Gove, the education secretary, was overheard shouting "disgrace" at Tory rebels, an MP told the Press Association. | Michael Gove, the education secretary, was overheard shouting "disgrace" at Tory rebels, an MP told the Press Association. |
| The Scottish National party's Westminster leader, Angus Robertson, told Sky News Gove had to be "persuaded to calm down" following the outburst. "Emotions were running high," Robertson said. Gove's wife Sarah Vine tweeted, in remarks that appeared to be aimed at Labour: "Pathetic losers who can't see past their own interests." | The Scottish National party's Westminster leader, Angus Robertson, told Sky News Gove had to be "persuaded to calm down" following the outburst. "Emotions were running high," Robertson said. Gove's wife Sarah Vine tweeted, in remarks that appeared to be aimed at Labour: "Pathetic losers who can't see past their own interests." |
| Sir Menzies Campbell, the former leader of the Liberal Democrats, highlighted the magnitude of the vote by saying that he could not remember a government defeat on a such a major foreign policy issue. | Sir Menzies Campbell, the former leader of the Liberal Democrats, highlighted the magnitude of the vote by saying that he could not remember a government defeat on a such a major foreign policy issue. |
| But Downing Street made clear that it would fight off any attempt to table a no confidence motion in the prime minister. 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 to table a no confidence motion in the prime minister. 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." |
| There was deep irritation in the Cabinet that the prime minister had misjudged the mood of his parliamentary party and had single-handedly revived the fortunes of Miliband after a recent bad patch. But there was support for the view that Cameron faces no threat to his position. | There was deep irritation in the Cabinet that the prime minister had misjudged the mood of his parliamentary party and had single-handedly revived the fortunes of Miliband after a recent bad patch. But there was support for the view that Cameron faces no threat to his position. |
| Philip Hammond, the defence secretary who had accused Miliband before the vote of giving "succour" to the Assad regime by declining to support the government, said that the government's defeat could damage Anglo-American relations. | Philip Hammond, the defence secretary who had accused Miliband before the vote of giving "succour" to the Assad regime by declining to support the government, said that the government's defeat could damage Anglo-American relations. |
| Hammond told BBC Newsnight: "It is certainly going to place some strain on the special relationship. The Americans do understand the parliamentary process that we have to go through … Perhaps they have been surprised by the scale of opposition in parliament." | Hammond told BBC Newsnight: "It is certainly going to place some strain on the special relationship. The Americans do understand the parliamentary process that we have to go through … Perhaps they have been surprised by the scale of opposition in parliament." |
| Some Tory cabinet ministers rounded on Nick Clegg, the deputy prime minister, who had struggled in the closing minutes of the debate to answer concerns on all sides of the House that the government motion would have taken Britain closer to joining a US military operation against the Assad regime in Syria after last week's chemical weapons attack. | Some Tory cabinet ministers rounded on Nick Clegg, the deputy prime minister, who had struggled in the closing minutes of the debate to answer concerns on all sides of the House that the government motion would have taken Britain closer to joining a US military operation against the Assad regime in Syria after last week's chemical weapons attack. |
| Justine Greening, the international development secretary, and Mark Simmonds, the Foreign Office minister, were also the target of frustration for missing the vote after claiming they could not hear the division bell. Downing Street was said to be unamused. | Justine Greening, the international development secretary, and Mark Simmonds, the Foreign Office minister, were also the target of frustration for missing the vote after claiming they could not hear the division bell. Downing Street was said to be unamused. |
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