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Syria air strikes: MPs holding second emergency debate | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
MPs are considering Parliament's role in approving military action in Syria after Theresa May authorised air strikes without consulting them. | |
The emergency debate was secured by Jeremy Corbyn, who accused the PM of by-passing Parliament. | The emergency debate was secured by Jeremy Corbyn, who accused the PM of by-passing Parliament. |
Mrs May defended her decision during six hours of debate on Monday. | Mrs May defended her decision during six hours of debate on Monday. |
She said there was evidence the Assad government was behind the chemical weapons attack in Douma and it was "legally right" to join the strikes. | She said there was evidence the Assad government was behind the chemical weapons attack in Douma and it was "legally right" to join the strikes. |
Labour leader Mr Corbyn said the decision to authorise air strikes without Parliament's approval set a precedent for possible, more dangerous action in the future. | Labour leader Mr Corbyn said the decision to authorise air strikes without Parliament's approval set a precedent for possible, more dangerous action in the future. |
He said the debate was needed to clarify the government's obligation to consult MPs before military intervention, which is the current convention. | He said the debate was needed to clarify the government's obligation to consult MPs before military intervention, which is the current convention. |
BBC News political correspondent Alex Forsyth said Tuesday's debate was not expected to result in a binding vote, but could inflict some political damage. | BBC News political correspondent Alex Forsyth said Tuesday's debate was not expected to result in a binding vote, but could inflict some political damage. |
Even some MPs who supported Mrs May's decision to order strikes expressed frustration that Parliament was by-passed. | Even some MPs who supported Mrs May's decision to order strikes expressed frustration that Parliament was by-passed. |
On Monday, Mr Corbyn said the government must be "accountable to this Parliament and not to the whims of this US president". | On Monday, Mr Corbyn said the government must be "accountable to this Parliament and not to the whims of this US president". |
He questioned who was responsible for the attack, saying that while it was "highly likely" the Assad regime was behind it, other groups had carried out similar attacks. | He questioned who was responsible for the attack, saying that while it was "highly likely" the Assad regime was behind it, other groups had carried out similar attacks. |
But some Labour MPs backed the decision to launch air strikes. | But some Labour MPs backed the decision to launch air strikes. |
Mrs May said it was in the UK's national interest to act - insisting that "we have not done this because President Trump asked us to but because it was the right thing to do". | Mrs May said it was in the UK's national interest to act - insisting that "we have not done this because President Trump asked us to but because it was the right thing to do". |
Monday's debate ended with a vote, forced by the SNP, on whether the House had sufficiently debated the matter of Syria. | Monday's debate ended with a vote, forced by the SNP, on whether the House had sufficiently debated the matter of Syria. |
The government won the motion by 314 to 36 votes, a majority of 278, with Labour abstaining. | The government won the motion by 314 to 36 votes, a majority of 278, with Labour abstaining. |
Sites near Damascus and Homs were hit on Saturday by the US, French and UK in response to the alleged chemical attack on Douma on 7 April. | Sites near Damascus and Homs were hit on Saturday by the US, French and UK in response to the alleged chemical attack on Douma on 7 April. |
It is thought President Bashar al-Assad's regime had been stockpiling materials used to make chemical weapons at those sites, the Ministry of Defence said. | It is thought President Bashar al-Assad's regime had been stockpiling materials used to make chemical weapons at those sites, the Ministry of Defence said. |
Both Syria, which denies any chemical use, and Russia, which provides military support to the Syrian government, have reacted angrily to the action. | Both Syria, which denies any chemical use, and Russia, which provides military support to the Syrian government, have reacted angrily to the action. |
Downing Street published its legal case for its part in the strikes, stating that the action was legally justified on humanitarian grounds. | Downing Street published its legal case for its part in the strikes, stating that the action was legally justified on humanitarian grounds. |
The UK and US have said the strikes were successful, with President Trump warning the US is "locked and loaded" for further action if there are more chemical attacks. | The UK and US have said the strikes were successful, with President Trump warning the US is "locked and loaded" for further action if there are more chemical attacks. |
On Saturday, the UN Security Council rejected a resolution drafted by Russia, while all Nato allies have given the military action their full support. | On Saturday, the UN Security Council rejected a resolution drafted by Russia, while all Nato allies have given the military action their full support. |