Syria Vote | rogergale

Syria Vote – 29.8.2013

The House did not vote for either motion
The Prime Minister has indicated that he strongly believes in the need for a tough response to the use of chemical weapons.
But he also believes in respecting the will of the House of Commons.
It is very clear tonight that while the House has not passed a motion, the British Parliament – reflecting the views of the British people – does not support British military action.
The Prime Minister understands that, and the Government will act accordingly.

My own position is that, having helped to secure a motion that would have given time for the UN weapons inspectors to complete their task and then offered the House a further vote on a substantive motion (which I would almost certainly have opposed) I supported the Government motion. Personally, I am pleased that we shall not be engaging in direct military intervention in Syria although I am concerned that the position that we now find ourselves in may make it harder to deliver the United Nations General Assembly vote that I suggested, in the Commons, that we should pursue. We now have to find a way to help to bring about a political solution in Syria while maintaining humanitarian support for the thousands of people displaced as a result of the conflict.