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SNP likely to oppose airstrikes on Isis in Syria – but open to persuasion Syria airstrikes: SNP likely to oppose action against Isis intensifying pressure on Labour
(about 1 hour later)
The Scottish National party (SNP) appears minded to oppose airstrikes on Islamic State targets in Syria before David Cameron makes his case to the House of Commons on Thursday. The Scottish National party appears minded to oppose airstrikes on Islamic State targets in Syria before David Cameron makes his case to the House of Commons on Thursday.
Cameron has said he plans to stage a quick Commons vote on extending airstrikes to Syria from Iraq next week. He will make an oral statement to MPs on Thursday and then ask them to consider his proposals over the weekend before going to a full debate and vote.Cameron has said he plans to stage a quick Commons vote on extending airstrikes to Syria from Iraq next week. He will make an oral statement to MPs on Thursday and then ask them to consider his proposals over the weekend before going to a full debate and vote.
After a meeting in Westminster, SNP MPs agreed that Cameron has not yet made a convincing case for extending military action, although they are still open to persuasion, according to party sources. After a meeting in Westminster, SNP MPs agreed that Cameron had not yet made a convincing case for extending military action, although they were still open to persuasion, according to party sources.
The parliamentary party of 54 MPs has taken no formal decision about which way to vote but Angus Robertson, the SNP Westminster leader, struck a sceptical note as he questioned the prime minister in the House of Commons on Wednesday about his plans for peace and a postwar Syria. The parliamentary party of 54 MPs has taken no formal decision about which way to vote but Angus Robertson, the SNP Westminster leader, struck a sceptical note as he questioned the prime minister in the Commons on Wednesday about his plans for peace and a postwar Syria.
The prime minister replied: “We cannot afford to wait for a political settlement in Syria before we act.”The prime minister replied: “We cannot afford to wait for a political settlement in Syria before we act.”
Afterwards, Robertson said: “Reconstructing Syria will be essential to secure stability and allow refugees to return – yet the prime minister seems unaware of the UK government’s plans for reconstruction – if there are any plans at all.Afterwards, Robertson said: “Reconstructing Syria will be essential to secure stability and allow refugees to return – yet the prime minister seems unaware of the UK government’s plans for reconstruction – if there are any plans at all.
“The fatal dangers of unintended consequences and escalation in Syria are clear for everyone to see. “The fatal dangers of unintended consequences and escalation in Syria are clear for everyone to see. We need more details from the prime minister, including his plans for boots on the ground. All serious observers agree that an air campaign alone will not lead to the ultimate defeat of Daesh [Isis] on the ground and ground forces will be needed. How many troops and from which countries does the PM have in his plan?”
“We need more details from the prime minister – including his plans for boots on the ground. All serious observers agree that an air campaign alone will not lead to the ultimate defeat of Daesh [Isis] on the ground and ground forces will be needed. How many troops and from which countries does the PM have in his plan?” Before the debate, an SNP spokesman said: “The case for airstrikes in Syria has not been made. However, the SNP is prepared to listen to the prime minister’s case on military intervention as well as its legality. He must address the efficacy of military intervention and how it will contribute to a wider initiative to end civil war and secure reconstruction.”
While the SNP appears prepared to vote against further military action, Labour’s position is to push for a political settlement in Syria but to remain open to the possibility of military action if Cameron makes a convincing case.While the SNP appears prepared to vote against further military action, Labour’s position is to push for a political settlement in Syria but to remain open to the possibility of military action if Cameron makes a convincing case.
However Labour’s leader, Jeremy Corbyn, has made it clear that he is not in favour of airstrikes, while shadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn has sounded more open to the idea. However Labour’s leader, Jeremy Corbyn, has made clear that he is not in favour of airstrikes; the shadow foreign secretary, Hilary Benn, has sounded more open to the idea.
The opposition also reacted with fury on Wednesday after Corbyn was invited to a government security briefing on airstrikes in Syria with just 12 hours’ notice and at a time that clashed with the autumn statement. The opposition also reacted with fury on Wednesday after Corbyn was invited to a government security briefing on airstrikes in Syria with just 12 hours’ notice and at a time that clashed with the autumn statement. Senior Labour aides accused No 10 of playing “outrageous political games” after Cabinet Office officials offered Corbyn and his team a briefing at a time when he was clearly unable to attend.
Senior Labour aides accused No 10 of playing “outrageous political games” after Cabinet Office officials offered Corbyn and his team a briefing at a time when he was clearly unable to attend. It would be convention for the leader of the opposition to receive a fuller security briefing before then, so that he and his shadow cabinet could come to a collective decision about whether to back airstrikes and whether MPs will be given a free vote.
It would be convention for the leader of the opposition to receive a fuller security briefing before then, so that he and his shadow cabinet can come to a collective decision about whether to back airstrikes and whether MPs will be given a free vote.
The government had already given a security briefing on Tuesday to the DUP, which has eight MPs, about the case for UK airstrikes against Isis to be extended to Syria.The government had already given a security briefing on Tuesday to the DUP, which has eight MPs, about the case for UK airstrikes against Isis to be extended to Syria.
After Labour said it had not received an invitation to such a briefing, it is understood the Cabinet Office sent an email at 8.11pm on Tuesday night to Corbyn’s secretary inviting his team to Whitehall for a discussion about military action between 11.30am and 1pm the next day. After Labour said it had not received an invitation to such a briefing, it is understood the Cabinet Office sent an email at 8.11pm on Tuesday to Corbyn’s secretary, inviting his team to Whitehall for a discussion about military action between 11.30am and 1pm the next day. At that time, Corbyn and his entire shadow cabinet were to be at prime minister’s questions, followed by the autumn statement.
At that time, Corbyn and his entire shadow cabinet were to be at prime minister’s questions, followed by the autumn statement. On Tuesday night, the Cabinet Office insisted Corbyn had been offered a briefing, but Hilary Benn was unaware of the late invitation, so it was reported as a split between Benn and Corbyn. A senior Labour aide claimed that this was a deliberate attempt by No 10 to manufacture a division between the two men.
On Tuesday night, the Cabinet Office insisted Corbyn had been offered a briefing, but Hilary Benn, the shadow foreign secretary, was unaware of the late invitation, so it was reported as a split between Benn and Corbyn.
A senior Labour aide claimed this was a deliberate attempt by No 10 to manufacture a division between the two men.
Labour was also frustrated that the briefing on offer was a session with Sir Mark Lyall Grant, the prime minister’s national security adviser, rather than with Cameron himself.Labour was also frustrated that the briefing on offer was a session with Sir Mark Lyall Grant, the prime minister’s national security adviser, rather than with Cameron himself.
When Cameron was making the case for airstrikes in Syria in 2013, he held a personal meeting with Ed Miliband, the former Labour leader. When Cameron was making the case for airstrikes in Syria in 2013, he held a personal meeting with Ed Miliband, then Labour leader.
Asked about the invitation, Cameron’s official spokesman would only say that the prime minister had been clear in public that all privy counsellors were entitled to security briefings if they asked for them. Asked about the invitation, Cameron’s official spokesman would only say that the prime minister had been clear in public that all privy counsellors were entitled to security briefings if they asked for them. “We have offered briefings to everyone who wants to have a briefing, any privy counsellors who ask for one,” he said. “It is effectively an open invite.
“We have offered briefings to everyone who wants to have a briefing, any privy counsellors who ask for one. It is effectively an open invite,” he said. “The PM has been clear at every point he has talked about it that he is happy for the government to provide briefings.” He said he would not “get into questions about process and who invited who when”.
“The PM has been clear at every point he has talked about it that he is happy for the government to provide briefings.”
He said he would not “get into questions about process and who invited who when”.