It isn't often you get to applaud the British MP's but tonight they did us proud, 285 voted against the Government motion to secure authorisation for UK military intervention in Syria with 272 voting for.
David Cameron after losing the vote said: '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.'.
Cameron has said he will not use the royal prerogative to start military intervention and respect the decision, and not order an attack.
Dave should be on the phone to Obama about now explaining how an outbreak of sanity in the British House Of Commons means that America's poodle won't be coming along on the latest adventure in the Middle East.
8 comments:
It is clear that 48% want blood. That is damn close...
Q
Royal prerogative? Is that a euphemism for "whatever the hell the PM wants"?
So ironic that I guess due to this royal prerogative thing Cameron technically didn't have to get the Commons' approval, yet he sought it, and, having lost, is going to abide by the nonbinding vote. Whereas Obama is required to seek Congressional approval of an act of war (something even Bush(!) comprehended and abided by), but seems prepared to totally ignore the law.
Do you know where I can see the vote tally? I'd be interested to see the breakdown. I read something about a number of Labour MPs skipping the vote, so it failed thanks to several Conservative and Lib Dem defectors.
@Nog: 'Is that a euphemism for "whatever the hell the PM wants"?'
Not really. Although it's a bit of a grey area exactly which areas are (or can be) covered by the prerogative, what is clear is that the boundaries can circumscribed by the judiciary wherever it sees fit. So in practice the prerogative leaves the sovereign with very little discretion as to its use, so it's therefore mainly invoked for traditional ceremonial purposes, like the opening and dissolving of parliament.
Effay: I'm not sure where you can find the exact breakdown, but apparently two Tory MINISTERS missed the vote because they didn't hear the division bell! :)
The details on the Syria vote are here, Effay.
Where did the lib dems come down in the vote?
33 Lib Dems voted for the government's motion on Syria, 9 voted against, 14 did not vote and 1 abstained.
Interesting, Lib-Dem grandee Paddy Ashdown has been one of the most scathing of the 'No' vote, saying that he's 'ashamed' and that Britain is 'diminished' by the result, and generally sounding like a bit of a sore loser.
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