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Tories to challenge Labour over extending campaign against Isis Tories to challenge Labour over extending campaign against Isis
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David Cameron is to challenge the next Labour leader to accept that there is a “strong case” to extend the bombing of Islamic State (Isis) forces in Iraq to Syria, George Osborne has said. David Cameron will challenge the next Labour leader to accept that there is a “strong case” to extend the bombing of Islamic State forces in Iraq to Syria, George Osborne has said.
But the chancellor said it would be pointless to hold a vote in the House of Commons if it was clear that there were insufficient votes to support an extension of the bombing campaign. The remarks by Osborne suggest that the government is backing away from plans, tentatively discussed in the early summer, to test the new Labour leader by unilaterally tabling an early commons vote. But the chancellor said it would be pointless to hold a vote in the House of Commons if it was clear that there were insufficient votes to support an extension of the bombing campaign. The remarks by Osborne suggest that the government is backing away from plans, tentatively discussed in the early summer, to test the new Labour leader by unilaterally tabling an early Commons vote.
Speaking on the Andrew Marr Show on BBC1, the chancellor made clear that senior ministers would seek to persuade MPs on all sides of the need to extend the campaign after the “dust has settled” on the Labour leadership contest. Michael Fallon, the defence secretary, has said it is illogical of Britain to join the air strike over Iraq but not over Syria. Speaking on the Andrew Marr Show on BBC1, Osborne made clear that senior ministers would seek to persuade MPs on all sides of the need to extend the campaign after the “dust has settled” on the Labour leadership contest. Michael Fallon, the defence secretary, has said it is illogical of Britain to join the airstrikes over Iraq but not over Syria.
Osborne said: “Personally I think, the prime minister thinks, the defence secretary and the foreign secretary we all think there is a strong case – and indeed an argument around coherence – that if you’re tackling Isis on one side of the Iraqi border you should be tackling it on the other side in Syria.” Osborne said: “Personally I think, the prime minister thinks, the defence secretary and the foreign secretary, we all think there is a strong case – and indeed an argument around coherence – that if you’re tackling Isis on one side of the Iraqi border you should be tackling it on the other side in Syria.”
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But the chancellor said there was no point in tabling a vote if it led to a repeat of the events of August 2013 when the government lost a vote, designed to pave the way for air strikes against Bashar al-Assad, after failing to win Labour support. “We would go back to the House of Commons if we thought that we could command support across the parties. It doesn’t mean every member of every party, but we’d have to win the vote. There’s no point going back and losing. I think that would be the worst of all worlds.” But he said there was no point in tabling a motion if it led to a repeat of the events of August 2013 when the government lost a vote designed to pave the way for airstrikes against Bashar al-Assad after failing to win Labour support. “We would go back to the House of Commons if we thought that we could command support across the parties. It doesn’t mean every member of every party, but we’d have to win the vote. There’s no point going back and losing. I think that would be the worst of all worlds.”
The chancellor’s suggestion that the government would not have to win the support of every MP, as he claimed that the likes of Harriet Harman felt uncomfortable with the 2013 vote, prompted suggestions that he might try to bypass the next Labour leader and win the support of other Labour MPs. Jeremy Corbyn has rejected an extension of the military campaign. Osborne suggested that the government would not have to win the support of every MP, raising the prospect that he might try to bypass the next Labour leader and win the support of other Labour MPs. Jeremy Corbyn has rejected an extension of the military campaign.
Government sources suggested that Osborne was in fact signalling that the government would seek to challenge the next Labour leader over supporting strikes but would not table a commons vote without his or her support. Up to 30 Tory MPs would vote against the military action, meaning the government would have to rely on Labour support. Government sources suggested that Osborne was in fact signalling that the government would seek to challenge the next Labour leader over supporting strikes but would not table a Commons vote without their support. Up to 30 Tory MPs would vote against the military action, meaning the government would have to rely on Labour support.
Osborne is understood to be bruised by the experience of August 2013 when Downing Street felt it was misled by Ed Miliband. “Personally I think that was one of the worst decisions the House of Commons has ever made, but we are not going to go back to the House of Commons unless we would be sure that we would get a different answer if we’re asking to intervene,” he said. Osborne is understood to be bruised by the experience of 2013 when Downing Street felt it was misled by Ed Miliband. “Personally I think that was one of the worst decisions the House of Commons has ever made, but we are not going to go back to the House of Commons unless we would be sure that we would get a different answer if we’re asking to intervene,” he said.
The chancellor added: “The Labour party voted as a block against action. I thought it was one of the most opportunistic things they did at the time because I don’t think it’s really what they thought.”The chancellor added: “The Labour party voted as a block against action. I thought it was one of the most opportunistic things they did at the time because I don’t think it’s really what they thought.”