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| May: Syria and Russia should be held to account for chemical attacks - as it happened | |
| (7 days later) | |
| That’s it for tonight. I’m closing this liveblog now. Thanks so much for joining us and for all the comments. | That’s it for tonight. I’m closing this liveblog now. Thanks so much for joining us and for all the comments. |
| Theresa May also made comments about the Salisbury spy attack, calling it “a terrible incident”. | Theresa May also made comments about the Salisbury spy attack, calling it “a terrible incident”. |
| She said: “It is Russia that has the capability, the intent and the motive to conduct this attack.” | She said: “It is Russia that has the capability, the intent and the motive to conduct this attack.” |
| There was no plausible alternative explanation other than that responsibility lay with Russia, said the prime minister, adding that it was part of a broader pattern of activity from Russia in terms of attempts to interfere with elections, cyber attacks and backing the Assad regime in Syria. | There was no plausible alternative explanation other than that responsibility lay with Russia, said the prime minister, adding that it was part of a broader pattern of activity from Russia in terms of attempts to interfere with elections, cyber attacks and backing the Assad regime in Syria. |
| Here’s more from Theresa May’s latest press conference, which took after she arrived in Stockholm. | Here’s more from Theresa May’s latest press conference, which took after she arrived in Stockholm. |
| May said Britain condemned the “truly barbaric chemical attack in Douma”. | May said Britain condemned the “truly barbaric chemical attack in Douma”. |
| The prime minister added: “Saturday’s horrific attack against the people of Douma, among them a number of innocent children, was utterly reprehensible.” | The prime minister added: “Saturday’s horrific attack against the people of Douma, among them a number of innocent children, was utterly reprehensible.” |
| Asked if the UK would join any US-led military action in Syria, she said: | Asked if the UK would join any US-led military action in Syria, she said: |
| What we are currently doing is working urgently with our allies to assess what has happened here. This has been an absolutely barbaric attack that has taken place. And, if it is clear that it is the responsibility of the Assad regime, it’s yet another example of the callous and brutal way in which he’s been treating his people. | What we are currently doing is working urgently with our allies to assess what has happened here. This has been an absolutely barbaric attack that has taken place. And, if it is clear that it is the responsibility of the Assad regime, it’s yet another example of the callous and brutal way in which he’s been treating his people. |
| And we are clear that those responsible should be held to account. We, as I say, are working urgently with our allies to asses what has happened. But, we are also working with our allies on any action that is necessary. | And we are clear that those responsible should be held to account. We, as I say, are working urgently with our allies to asses what has happened. But, we are also working with our allies on any action that is necessary. |
| The US president has told reporters that he will make “some major decisions” as early as this evening on how the US will respond to the “atrocious” chemical weapons attack on civilians in Syria. | The US president has told reporters that he will make “some major decisions” as early as this evening on how the US will respond to the “atrocious” chemical weapons attack on civilians in Syria. |
| .@POTUS Trump condemns the heinous attack on innocent Syrians with banned chemical weapons. #Syria pic.twitter.com/qiEahlL3Ah | .@POTUS Trump condemns the heinous attack on innocent Syrians with banned chemical weapons. #Syria pic.twitter.com/qiEahlL3Ah |
| “We are very concerned that a thing like that can happen. This is about humanity ... it can’t be allowed to happen. We’ll be looking at that barbaric act and studying what’s going on,” the US president said before a Cabinet meeting. | “We are very concerned that a thing like that can happen. This is about humanity ... it can’t be allowed to happen. We’ll be looking at that barbaric act and studying what’s going on,” the US president said before a Cabinet meeting. |
| He added: | He added: |
| If it’s Russia, if it’s Syria, if it’s Iran, if it’s all of them together, we’ll figure it out and we’ll know the answers quite soon. | If it’s Russia, if it’s Syria, if it’s Iran, if it’s all of them together, we’ll figure it out and we’ll know the answers quite soon. |
| Theresa May is now in Stockholm and has just done a press conference with the Swedish prime minister, Stefan Löfven. | Theresa May is now in Stockholm and has just done a press conference with the Swedish prime minister, Stefan Löfven. |
| She has used it as an opportunity to “reiterate her condemnation” of the attack on the people of Douma in Syria. | She has used it as an opportunity to “reiterate her condemnation” of the attack on the people of Douma in Syria. |
| She was asked if she would join a US-led coalition against Bashar al-Assad following comments by US president Donald Trump. May said she was working with allies to establish responsibility and again repeated that those responsible should be held to account. | She was asked if she would join a US-led coalition against Bashar al-Assad following comments by US president Donald Trump. May said she was working with allies to establish responsibility and again repeated that those responsible should be held to account. |
| May added that she is “working with allies on any action” deemed necessary, which perhaps shows she is not ruling out military action, however she ignored a question on whether she’ll be recalling parliament for a vote on this. | May added that she is “working with allies on any action” deemed necessary, which perhaps shows she is not ruling out military action, however she ignored a question on whether she’ll be recalling parliament for a vote on this. |
| This is Nicola Slawson taking over from Haroon for the evening. | This is Nicola Slawson taking over from Haroon for the evening. |
| Boris Johnson has spoken to America’s acting secretary of state about the situation in Syria. | Boris Johnson has spoken to America’s acting secretary of state about the situation in Syria. |
| A foreign office spokesman said: | A foreign office spokesman said: |
| The foreign secretary spoke to acting US secretary of state John Sullivan this afternoon about Saturday’s devastating attack in Douma, Syria. This follows his conversation with French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian this morning. | The foreign secretary spoke to acting US secretary of state John Sullivan this afternoon about Saturday’s devastating attack in Douma, Syria. This follows his conversation with French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian this morning. |
| The foreign secretary and acting secretary of state agreed that, based on current media reports and reports from those on the ground, this attack bore hallmarks of previous chemical weapons attacks by the Assad regime. | The foreign secretary and acting secretary of state agreed that, based on current media reports and reports from those on the ground, this attack bore hallmarks of previous chemical weapons attacks by the Assad regime. |
| They reiterated their commitment to standing up for the Chemical Weapons Convention and to ensuring that those responsible for this horrific attack are held to account. They underlined the importance of the UK, the US, and France remaining in close touch. | They reiterated their commitment to standing up for the Chemical Weapons Convention and to ensuring that those responsible for this horrific attack are held to account. They underlined the importance of the UK, the US, and France remaining in close touch. |
| Here is an afternoon summary: | Here is an afternoon summary: |
| Theresa May has said the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, and his Russian backers must be held to account if found responsible for the chemical attack that killed dozens of people. May did not spell out what action the UK was prepared to take. | Theresa May has said the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, and his Russian backers must be held to account if found responsible for the chemical attack that killed dozens of people. May did not spell out what action the UK was prepared to take. |
| The prime minister linked the Salisbury poisoning of the former Russian spy, Sergei Skripa, and his daughter Yulia to the Syria attack. She said the former showed “a similar recklessness” to the assault on Douma. | The prime minister linked the Salisbury poisoning of the former Russian spy, Sergei Skripa, and his daughter Yulia to the Syria attack. She said the former showed “a similar recklessness” to the assault on Douma. |
| Jeremy Corbyn has said Amber Rudd has been “completely undermined” by leaked Home Office documents suggesting government cuts are linked to the rise in violent crime. Rudd earlier denied seeing the documents and said the increase was not connected to police funding cuts. | Jeremy Corbyn has said Amber Rudd has been “completely undermined” by leaked Home Office documents suggesting government cuts are linked to the rise in violent crime. Rudd earlier denied seeing the documents and said the increase was not connected to police funding cuts. |
| Theresa May has overtaken Jeremy Corbyn in a poll for the first time since the election, according YouGov. The prime minister’s net rating (favourable minus unfavourable) was -13 while the Labour leader’s was -23. | Theresa May has overtaken Jeremy Corbyn in a poll for the first time since the election, according YouGov. The prime minister’s net rating (favourable minus unfavourable) was -13 while the Labour leader’s was -23. |
| The foreign secretary, Boris Johnson, has congratulated Viktor Orbán, who ran a hardline anti-immigrant campaign, on winning the Hungarian election. Johnson expressed hope the UK and Hungary could “further develop our close partnership”. In comments not aimed directly at Johnson, the European parliament’s Brexit negotiator, Guy Verhofstadt said congratulating Orbán without urging him to respect European values “legitimises his vile campaign”. | The foreign secretary, Boris Johnson, has congratulated Viktor Orbán, who ran a hardline anti-immigrant campaign, on winning the Hungarian election. Johnson expressed hope the UK and Hungary could “further develop our close partnership”. In comments not aimed directly at Johnson, the European parliament’s Brexit negotiator, Guy Verhofstadt said congratulating Orbán without urging him to respect European values “legitimises his vile campaign”. |
| The foreign secretary, Boris Johnson, is getting some stick for congratulating the Hungarian prime minister, Viktor Orbán, on his re-election. | The foreign secretary, Boris Johnson, is getting some stick for congratulating the Hungarian prime minister, Viktor Orbán, on his re-election. |
| Viktor Orbán persecutes migrants, destroys press freedoms and uses his position to peddle state sponsored antisemitism. He is the 21st century far right, and our Foreign Secretary sends him congratulations. Disgusting. https://t.co/abh1Rr1z4q | Viktor Orbán persecutes migrants, destroys press freedoms and uses his position to peddle state sponsored antisemitism. He is the 21st century far right, and our Foreign Secretary sends him congratulations. Disgusting. https://t.co/abh1Rr1z4q |
| And yet @BorisJohnson sent warm congratulations to Orban. But then . . . https://t.co/5MeOmHOqW6 | And yet @BorisJohnson sent warm congratulations to Orban. But then . . . https://t.co/5MeOmHOqW6 |
| Jeremy Corbyn has said he would be willing to discuss Maureen Lipman’s concerns about antisemitism within Labour, after the actor said she was leaving the party. In 2014, Lipman said she was abandoning a lifetime’s support of Labour, partly in protest at Ed Miliband’s support for recognising the Palestinian state. | Jeremy Corbyn has said he would be willing to discuss Maureen Lipman’s concerns about antisemitism within Labour, after the actor said she was leaving the party. In 2014, Lipman said she was abandoning a lifetime’s support of Labour, partly in protest at Ed Miliband’s support for recognising the Palestinian state. |
| Asked about Maureen Lipman, who announced she can no longer be a member of Labour amid concerns over antisemitism, Jeremy Corbyn tells LBC: "Maureen Lipman is a great actress." pic.twitter.com/zUQymOePkj | Asked about Maureen Lipman, who announced she can no longer be a member of Labour amid concerns over antisemitism, Jeremy Corbyn tells LBC: "Maureen Lipman is a great actress." pic.twitter.com/zUQymOePkj |
| Here is the Guardian’s news story on the prime minister’s comments on Syria: | Here is the Guardian’s news story on the prime minister’s comments on Syria: |
| The European parliament’s Brexit negotiator, Guy Verhofstadt, has criticised the parliament’s centre-right bloc, the European People’s Party (EPP), for congratulating the Hungarian president, Viktor Orbán, on his re-election without any qualifications. Boris Johnson has offered similarly unreserved felicitations (see 12.53pm update). | The European parliament’s Brexit negotiator, Guy Verhofstadt, has criticised the parliament’s centre-right bloc, the European People’s Party (EPP), for congratulating the Hungarian president, Viktor Orbán, on his re-election without any qualifications. Boris Johnson has offered similarly unreserved felicitations (see 12.53pm update). |
| By congratulating Orbán without calling on him to respect European values, the EPP legitimises his vile campaign, his attack on the rule of law & attempt to install authoritarianism. The only positive news is the emergence of @MomentumHU. They're the hope for the future. 🇪🇺🇭🇺 https://t.co/UYRuy4Z9Ro | By congratulating Orbán without calling on him to respect European values, the EPP legitimises his vile campaign, his attack on the rule of law & attempt to install authoritarianism. The only positive news is the emergence of @MomentumHU. They're the hope for the future. 🇪🇺🇭🇺 https://t.co/UYRuy4Z9Ro |