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Syria crisis: Boris Johnson says new vote possible Syria crisis: Boris Johnson says new vote possible
(35 minutes later)
MPs could be asked to vote again on British military involvement in Syria if new evidence emerges about who was behind the recent suspected chemical weapons attack, Boris Johnson has said.MPs could be asked to vote again on British military involvement in Syria if new evidence emerges about who was behind the recent suspected chemical weapons attack, Boris Johnson has said.
The Conservative London mayor joined calls for a second vote after MPs defeated the government last week.The Conservative London mayor joined calls for a second vote after MPs defeated the government last week.
Ministers earlier ruled out a further motion, with Foreign Secretary William Hague saying Parliament had "spoken".Ministers earlier ruled out a further motion, with Foreign Secretary William Hague saying Parliament had "spoken".
The US has delayed strikes pending the approval of Congress next week.The US has delayed strikes pending the approval of Congress next week.
Secretary of State John Kerry now says America has evidence the chemical nerve agent sarin was used in a deadly attack in Damascus last month.Secretary of State John Kerry now says America has evidence the chemical nerve agent sarin was used in a deadly attack in Damascus last month.
In other developments:In other developments:
Mr Johnson said a new proposal "inviting British participation" in military action could be put before UK politicians "if there is new and better evidence" that President Assad's forces were behind the suspected attack which killed hundreds of Syrians. Mr Johnson said a new proposal "inviting British participation" in military action could be put before UK politicians, despite the loss of last week's vote, which saw 39 Conservative and Liberal Democrat MPs siding with Labour against the government.
Some other senior politicians, including former Westminster party leaders Lord Ashdown and Lord Howard - and former Foreign Secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind - have said the US delay could allow the House of Commons to "think again". He wrote in the Daily Telegraph: "If there is new and better evidence that inculpates [President Bashar al-] Assad, I see no reason why the government should not lay a new motion before Parliament, inviting British participation - and then it is Ed Miliband, not David Cameron, who will face embarrassment.
It comes after the government sought support in principle for UK involvement but lost by 13 votes after almost 40 MPs from the two coalition parties joined Labour in siding against the motion. "The Labour leader has been capering around pretending to have stopped an attack on Syria - when his real position has been more weaselly.
However on Sunday shadow defence secretary Jim Murphy said there was "unease about the outcome of the vote". "If you add the Tories and Blairites together, there is a natural majority for a calibrated and limited response to a grotesque war crime."
Some other senior politicians, including former Lib Dem and Conservative leaders Lord Ashdown and Lord Howard - and former Foreign Secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind - have said the US's own delay could allow the House of Commons to "think again".
The comments come after the government sought support in principle for UK involvement but lost by 13 votes.
However, on Sunday shadow defence secretary Jim Murphy said there was "unease about the outcome of the vote".
"It's not what I wanted," he wrote on his website. "I share the unease that we have gone from a stringent conditions-based approach to any UK military action to an unconditional policy of UK military inaction.""It's not what I wanted," he wrote on his website. "I share the unease that we have gone from a stringent conditions-based approach to any UK military action to an unconditional policy of UK military inaction."
Meanwhile, Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad told the BBC that any military action against Syria would amount to "support for al-Qaeda and its affiliates", claiming armed groups backed by America had used chemical weapons - not Syrian troops.Meanwhile, Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad told the BBC that any military action against Syria would amount to "support for al-Qaeda and its affiliates", claiming armed groups backed by America had used chemical weapons - not Syrian troops.
On Sunday, Mr Hague told the BBC he did not believe new information about the attack would make a difference to the MPs who doubted the government's case.On Sunday, Mr Hague told the BBC he did not believe new information about the attack would make a difference to the MPs who doubted the government's case.
He said: "I don't think on any issue the government can go back to parliament every few days, or every week with the same proposition, and our proposition already included waiting for the UN weapon inspectors to report, to discuss things at the Security Council, that was already built into our proposal. He said: "I don't think on any issue the government can go back to Parliament every few days, or every week with the same proposition, and our proposition already included waiting for the UN weapon inspectors to report, to discuss things at the Security Council, that was already built into our proposal.
"So on this particular issue that we voted for on Thursday; can we go back in the coming days and have that vote again? Well no, we can't do that. Parliament has spoken.""So on this particular issue that we voted for on Thursday; can we go back in the coming days and have that vote again? Well no, we can't do that. Parliament has spoken."
'Failure of leadership''Failure of leadership'
Earlier, Chancellor George Osborne also said that waiting for more evidence would not have made a difference to the MPs' decision.Earlier, Chancellor George Osborne also said that waiting for more evidence would not have made a difference to the MPs' decision.
"I don't feel, frankly, more evidence or another week or more UN reports would have convinced them," he said."I don't feel, frankly, more evidence or another week or more UN reports would have convinced them," he said.
But Sir Malcolm Rifkind - chairman of the Intelligence and Security Committee - said: "Parliament ought to have the opportunity to debate the matter again" if the evidence was agreed to be compelling. But Sir Malcolm Rifkind - chairman of the Intelligence and Security Committee - said "Parliament ought to have the opportunity to debate the matter again" if the evidence was agreed to be compelling.
Former Liberal Democrat leader Lord Ashdown also suggested MPs and peers would want to "reconsider" their position following President Obama's move to put US involvement to a vote. Lord Ashdown also suggested MPs and peers would want to "reconsider" their position following President Obama's move to put US involvement to a vote.
Syria's President Bashar al-Assad blames opposition forces for the attack on 21 August and says his country will defend itself against any Western "aggression". Syria's President Assad blames opposition forces for the attack on 21 August and says his country will defend itself against any Western "aggression".
President Obama's surprising decision to ask Congress for approval means that a strike which was thought to be imminent will now not go ahead before 9 September, when Congress reconvenes. President Obama's surprising decision to ask Congress for approval means that a strike which was thought to be imminent will now not go ahead before 9 September - when Congress reconvenes - at the earliest.
The opposition Syrian National Coalition called Mr Obama's decision to delay possible military action a "failure of leadership", saying it could "embolden" President Assad's forcesThe opposition Syrian National Coalition called Mr Obama's decision to delay possible military action a "failure of leadership", saying it could "embolden" President Assad's forces
More than 100,000 people are estimated to have died and at least 1.7 million refugees displaced since civil conflict erupted in Syria in March 2011.More than 100,000 people are estimated to have died and at least 1.7 million refugees displaced since civil conflict erupted in Syria in March 2011.
The violence began when Syrian security forces clamped down on anti-government protests.The violence began when Syrian security forces clamped down on anti-government protests.