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No 10 launches bitter assault on Ed Miliband over Syria vote No 10 launches bitter assault on Ed Miliband over Syria vote
(17 days later)
Relations between David Cameron and Ed Miliband appear to have broken down completely as Downing Street accused the Labour leader of "buggering around" and "playing politics" rather than responding "seriously" to the crisis in Syria.Relations between David Cameron and Ed Miliband appear to have broken down completely as Downing Street accused the Labour leader of "buggering around" and "playing politics" rather than responding "seriously" to the crisis in Syria.
As the domestic and international fall-out from Thursday's defeat for the prime minister continues, Labour responded angrily. Senior party sources said it was Cameron's "Flashman" approach and his "character" failings, rather than Labour's actions, that explained his Commons humiliation.As the domestic and international fall-out from Thursday's defeat for the prime minister continues, Labour responded angrily. Senior party sources said it was Cameron's "Flashman" approach and his "character" failings, rather than Labour's actions, that explained his Commons humiliation.
One No 10 source said Miliband had changed his position repeatedly in talks with the prime minister in a way that was "not credible or serious". The source added: "To spend the entire time buggering around moving the goalposts is hard to see as anything other than playing politics."One No 10 source said Miliband had changed his position repeatedly in talks with the prime minister in a way that was "not credible or serious". The source added: "To spend the entire time buggering around moving the goalposts is hard to see as anything other than playing politics."
The extent of insults aimed at Miliband, emanating from No 10 on a matter as sensitive as response to the use of chemical weapons, suggests the prime minister has personally authorised a concerted counter-attack on the Labour leader as he seeks to divert blame before the new parliamentary term, which begins on Monday, and before a meeting of G20 leaders, including President Barack Obama, in Russia on Thursday.The extent of insults aimed at Miliband, emanating from No 10 on a matter as sensitive as response to the use of chemical weapons, suggests the prime minister has personally authorised a concerted counter-attack on the Labour leader as he seeks to divert blame before the new parliamentary term, which begins on Monday, and before a meeting of G20 leaders, including President Barack Obama, in Russia on Thursday.
The latest exchanges set the stage for a tumultuous first session of prime minister's questions on Wednesday following the summer break, when the issue of Syria is certain to dominate.The latest exchanges set the stage for a tumultuous first session of prime minister's questions on Wednesday following the summer break, when the issue of Syria is certain to dominate.
While Cameron is seen at Westminster as seriously, if not fatally, damaged by his Commons defeat, those close to the prime minister still believe he can restore his authority by using the Syria fiasco as a way to portray Miliband as weak, opportunistic and unstatesmanlike for failing to support the government over a matter of grave international significance.While Cameron is seen at Westminster as seriously, if not fatally, damaged by his Commons defeat, those close to the prime minister still believe he can restore his authority by using the Syria fiasco as a way to portray Miliband as weak, opportunistic and unstatesmanlike for failing to support the government over a matter of grave international significance.
Labour, on the other hand, says Cameron's response is typical of his character, and that he was unable to win the support of the country for military action against Assad because he failed to listen to the opinions of others.Labour, on the other hand, says Cameron's response is typical of his character, and that he was unable to win the support of the country for military action against Assad because he failed to listen to the opinions of others.
"His approach had all the subtlety of Flashman," said a source close to Miliband. "It was the character of David Cameron – his stubbornness, his anger and his rush towards war – which was the central cause of his defeat on Thursday night.""His approach had all the subtlety of Flashman," said a source close to Miliband. "It was the character of David Cameron – his stubbornness, his anger and his rush towards war – which was the central cause of his defeat on Thursday night."
During his summing-up speech in Thursday's debate, deputy prime minister Nick Clegg was asked by Labour MP Andrew Gwynne to condemn the behaviour of No 10 officials who were reported as having said that Miliband was "giving succour" to the Assad regime by refusing to back the government over its plan for military action. Clegg dodged the question but said he understood the anxieties of everyone on all sides of the argument. Defence secretary Philip Hammond repeated the same line after the government defeat.During his summing-up speech in Thursday's debate, deputy prime minister Nick Clegg was asked by Labour MP Andrew Gwynne to condemn the behaviour of No 10 officials who were reported as having said that Miliband was "giving succour" to the Assad regime by refusing to back the government over its plan for military action. Clegg dodged the question but said he understood the anxieties of everyone on all sides of the argument. Defence secretary Philip Hammond repeated the same line after the government defeat.
Miliband's aides reiterated that he has never ruled out military action but believes that after the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, the government has to be seen to be following due process in order to win public backing and trust. "Cameron never realised the importance of the United Nations, the importance of the weapons inspectors and the importance of a second vote specifically to authorise military action."Miliband's aides reiterated that he has never ruled out military action but believes that after the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, the government has to be seen to be following due process in order to win public backing and trust. "Cameron never realised the importance of the United Nations, the importance of the weapons inspectors and the importance of a second vote specifically to authorise military action."
On Thursday Cameron will sit down at the G20 meeting in St Petersburg with Obama. He is expected to hold at least one bilateral meeting at which the issue of Syria is bound to come up.On Thursday Cameron will sit down at the G20 meeting in St Petersburg with Obama. He is expected to hold at least one bilateral meeting at which the issue of Syria is bound to come up.
Writing in the Observer, the former Liberal Democrat leader Paddy Ashdown says he feels "sad" and "even a little ashamed" by the decision parliament took. Laying blame partly at the feet of Cameron's government, he says: "Of course there are reasons for this. The leftover poisons of the Iraq war; the toxic effect of public distrust in our politics. Mishandling by the government. President Obama's unwise attempt to rush to action. A Labour opposition that used its parliamentary duty to ask questions as an excuse to avoid making decisions."Writing in the Observer, the former Liberal Democrat leader Paddy Ashdown says he feels "sad" and "even a little ashamed" by the decision parliament took. Laying blame partly at the feet of Cameron's government, he says: "Of course there are reasons for this. The leftover poisons of the Iraq war; the toxic effect of public distrust in our politics. Mishandling by the government. President Obama's unwise attempt to rush to action. A Labour opposition that used its parliamentary duty to ask questions as an excuse to avoid making decisions."
He adds: "The bottom line is this. Parliament was asked to join an international coalition led by a US Democrat president, whose aim, a firm response to a flagrant breach of international law, was supported by most European nations and many Middle Eastern ones. And parliament said no."He adds: "The bottom line is this. Parliament was asked to join an international coalition led by a US Democrat president, whose aim, a firm response to a flagrant breach of international law, was supported by most European nations and many Middle Eastern ones. And parliament said no."
While Cameron shows no sign of wanting to mend fences with Miliband, moves are already under way to heal wounds inside the Tory party, after 30 Conservative MPs joined Labour in the vote. On Friday evening Cameron held a barbecue at Chequers for Conservative MPs, including some who had rebelled. "He is not someone who believes in cutting people off," said a No 10 official.While Cameron shows no sign of wanting to mend fences with Miliband, moves are already under way to heal wounds inside the Tory party, after 30 Conservative MPs joined Labour in the vote. On Friday evening Cameron held a barbecue at Chequers for Conservative MPs, including some who had rebelled. "He is not someone who believes in cutting people off," said a No 10 official.
An Opinium/Observer poll conducted last Wednesday, Thursday and Friday shows how strongly the public was against military intervention both in the lead-up to, and immediately after, the Commons vote. Some 60% of voters said they were opposed while just 24% said they supported action. Even among Conservatives just 34% were in favour.An Opinium/Observer poll conducted last Wednesday, Thursday and Friday shows how strongly the public was against military intervention both in the lead-up to, and immediately after, the Commons vote. Some 60% of voters said they were opposed while just 24% said they supported action. Even among Conservatives just 34% were in favour.
The most popular option was "greater diplomatic pressure on the Syrian regime" such as economic sanctions, which was backed by 48% of likely voters. Some 59% of voters said the UK's recent entanglements in Iraq and Afghanistan had made them more reluctant to support military interventions by UK forces abroad. This was particularly true among those over 55, 70% of whom said they had been put off by the way these actions had turned out.The most popular option was "greater diplomatic pressure on the Syrian regime" such as economic sanctions, which was backed by 48% of likely voters. Some 59% of voters said the UK's recent entanglements in Iraq and Afghanistan had made them more reluctant to support military interventions by UK forces abroad. This was particularly true among those over 55, 70% of whom said they had been put off by the way these actions had turned out.
On Saturday, Russia's president, Vladimir Putin, who will host the G20 meeting, challenged the US to present evidence that Syria attacked rebels with chemical weapons near Damascus, claiming it would be "utter nonsense" for Syria's government to provoke opponents with such attacks.On Saturday, Russia's president, Vladimir Putin, who will host the G20 meeting, challenged the US to present evidence that Syria attacked rebels with chemical weapons near Damascus, claiming it would be "utter nonsense" for Syria's government to provoke opponents with such attacks.
Speaking to journalists in Vladivostok, he urged Obama – as a Nobel peace prize laureate – to think about future victims in Syria before using force.Speaking to journalists in Vladivostok, he urged Obama – as a Nobel peace prize laureate – to think about future victims in Syria before using force.
He said it was ridiculous to suggest the Syrian government was to blame for the attack, calling it a "provocation by those who want to drag other countries into the Syrian conflict".He said it was ridiculous to suggest the Syrian government was to blame for the attack, calling it a "provocation by those who want to drag other countries into the Syrian conflict".
Obama and Cameron went some way to reducing tension ahead of the gathering of world leaders on Friday evening when they held a 15-minute phone call. A Downing Street spokesman said: "The prime minister made clear that he strongly believes in the need for a tough and robust response to the appalling war crime committed by the Assad regime in Ghouta.Obama and Cameron went some way to reducing tension ahead of the gathering of world leaders on Friday evening when they held a 15-minute phone call. A Downing Street spokesman said: "The prime minister made clear that he strongly believes in the need for a tough and robust response to the appalling war crime committed by the Assad regime in Ghouta.
"The PM explained that he wanted to build a consensual approach in Britain for our response and that the government had accepted the clear view of the House against British military action."The PM explained that he wanted to build a consensual approach in Britain for our response and that the government had accepted the clear view of the House against British military action.
"President Obama said he fully respected the PM's approach and that he had not yet taken a decision on the US response.""President Obama said he fully respected the PM's approach and that he had not yet taken a decision on the US response."
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