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No early vote on Syria airstrikes, says Fallon No early vote on Syria airstrikes, says Fallon
(35 minutes later)
Michael Fallon, the defence secretary, has said the government will not press for a Commons vote on extending airstrikes to Syria as early as next week, saying MPs will need time to absorb the case for war to be put by the prime minister on Thursday.Michael Fallon, the defence secretary, has said the government will not press for a Commons vote on extending airstrikes to Syria as early as next week, saying MPs will need time to absorb the case for war to be put by the prime minister on Thursday.
Fallon was also unclear about the identity of the ground troops that would occupy territory currently occupied by Islamic State in Syria if airstrikes drove the militants from their base, referring simply to local troops or an as-yet-unformed new Syrian government.Fallon was also unclear about the identity of the ground troops that would occupy territory currently occupied by Islamic State in Syria if airstrikes drove the militants from their base, referring simply to local troops or an as-yet-unformed new Syrian government.
The identity of the ground troops, and the likelihood that much of the territory would be seized either by President Bashar al-Assad’s army or different warring armies, is probably the biggest single stumbling block to David Cameron securing a Commons majority.The identity of the ground troops, and the likelihood that much of the territory would be seized either by President Bashar al-Assad’s army or different warring armies, is probably the biggest single stumbling block to David Cameron securing a Commons majority.
Related: Growing number of MPs signal they will back more airstrikes on Syria
Cameron was in Paris holding talks with François Hollande on Monday before the French president’s visit to Barack Obama in Washington and Vladimir Putin in Moscow. At a press conference, speaking of Isis, Cameron said: “Together we will destroy this evil threat.”Cameron was in Paris holding talks with François Hollande on Monday before the French president’s visit to Barack Obama in Washington and Vladimir Putin in Moscow. At a press conference, speaking of Isis, Cameron said: “Together we will destroy this evil threat.”
Earlier, the prime minister and Hollande visited the Bataclan concert hall, scene of the highest number of fatalities in Friday 13 November’s terror attacks.Earlier, the prime minister and Hollande visited the Bataclan concert hall, scene of the highest number of fatalities in Friday 13 November’s terror attacks.
Fallon said the speed with which Cameron put the issue to a vote would depend on MPs, but indicated it was unlikely to be as early as next week. Cameron will only put the case for war on Thursday in the form of a reply to a sceptical report written by the foreign affairs select committee.Fallon said the speed with which Cameron put the issue to a vote would depend on MPs, but indicated it was unlikely to be as early as next week. Cameron will only put the case for war on Thursday in the form of a reply to a sceptical report written by the foreign affairs select committee.
Fallon said: “A lot of new MPs understandably want to be sure there is a political track to this as well – that we are working with everyone in the region to create a more comprehensive moderate government in the region to bring long-term security after the striking has finished.”Fallon said: “A lot of new MPs understandably want to be sure there is a political track to this as well – that we are working with everyone in the region to create a more comprehensive moderate government in the region to bring long-term security after the striking has finished.”
He added: “The troops on the ground are going to be like in Iraq – the security forces of the Syrian government that can end this civil war and represent genuinely all parts of Syria whether they are Shia, Druze, Christian, Sunni or Alawite.”He added: “The troops on the ground are going to be like in Iraq – the security forces of the Syrian government that can end this civil war and represent genuinely all parts of Syria whether they are Shia, Druze, Christian, Sunni or Alawite.”
He claimed the pressure was mounting on Assad through the international support group talks in Vienna, and added: “There is international agreement now that Assad has to go and there has to be a more comprehensive government.”He claimed the pressure was mounting on Assad through the international support group talks in Vienna, and added: “There is international agreement now that Assad has to go and there has to be a more comprehensive government.”
He acknowledged that Assad had not agreed to go, but pointed to the involvement of countries including Saudi Arabia, Russia and Iran in the talks process.He acknowledged that Assad had not agreed to go, but pointed to the involvement of countries including Saudi Arabia, Russia and Iran in the talks process.
Fallon’s claim that there is an international agreement over the need for Assad to step down is likely to be challenged by Labour, not least because neither Iran or Russia has at least in public abandoned their ally, even if they have said there should be fresh elections and a broader government. Related: Putin would back moderate Syrian opposition in Isis fight
The defence secretary said there was also a moral case for war, adding it was wrong that the fighting and risk was currently being handed to the UK allies acting on behalf off the UK government. Fallon’s claim that there is an international agreement over the need for Assad to step down is likely to be challenged by Labour, not least because neither Iran nor Russia has at least in public abandoned their ally, even if they have said there should be fresh elections and a broader government.
The defence secretary said there was also a moral case for war, adding it was wrong that the fighting and risk was currently being handed to the UK allies acting on behalf of the UK government.
He insisted the UK’s high precision Brimstone missile was needed by the UK’s allies over Syria since it reduces civilian casualties.He insisted the UK’s high precision Brimstone missile was needed by the UK’s allies over Syria since it reduces civilian casualties.
He said any future on strikes in Syria would be a very different vote to the vote on whether British forces should help bomb Assad over the use of chemical weapons in 2013. He said any future vote on airstrikes on Syria would be very different from the vote on whether British forces should help bomb Assad over the use of chemical weapons in 2013.
Maria Eagle, the shadow defence secretary, said Labour could only reach a judgment on military action in Syria once it has seen Cameron’s case. Maria Eagle, the shadow defence secretary, said Labour could only reach a judgment on military action in Syria once it had seen Cameron’s case.
She did not rule out support for airstrikes, saying: “As long as MPs can see a plan that’s dealt with across the region, that is supported by all, that will work, that shows what our military input, what impact that will have, then there is a chance we can agree on a proper way forward.”She did not rule out support for airstrikes, saying: “As long as MPs can see a plan that’s dealt with across the region, that is supported by all, that will work, that shows what our military input, what impact that will have, then there is a chance we can agree on a proper way forward.”
She added: “We will deal with it once we have heard from the prime minister. It is all very well suggesting that a few bombs are going to deal with Isil/Daesh. There is a coalition of 60 nations already doing that in Syria.She added: “We will deal with it once we have heard from the prime minister. It is all very well suggesting that a few bombs are going to deal with Isil/Daesh. There is a coalition of 60 nations already doing that in Syria.
Related: Security council unanimously calls on UN members to fight Isis
“We need to see that the plan that the world comes up with – and there now is a UN resolution that they have to be dealt with – will work and we have to be sure that it will make a positive difference before we are asked which way we are going to vote and before the Labour party will decide how to whip its MPs.”“We need to see that the plan that the world comes up with – and there now is a UN resolution that they have to be dealt with – will work and we have to be sure that it will make a positive difference before we are asked which way we are going to vote and before the Labour party will decide how to whip its MPs.”
Momentum, the grassroots group that supports Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership, has sent out emergency emails asking its supporters to contact MPs and tell them to oppose airstrikes.Momentum, the grassroots group that supports Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership, has sent out emergency emails asking its supporters to contact MPs and tell them to oppose airstrikes.