This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23925932

The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Syria crisis: Nick Clegg rules out fresh Commons vote Syria crisis: Nick Clegg rules out fresh Commons vote
(about 1 hour later)
Nick Clegg has said he cannot "foresee any circumstances" under which MPs could be asked to vote again on action over Syria, after Boris Johnson argued there was "no reason" not to do so.Nick Clegg has said he cannot "foresee any circumstances" under which MPs could be asked to vote again on action over Syria, after Boris Johnson argued there was "no reason" not to do so.
The deputy prime minister insisted the government would not "go back" to the House of Commons on the issue.The deputy prime minister insisted the government would not "go back" to the House of Commons on the issue.
Earlier, London Mayor Mr Johnson said a new motion could be debated if "better evidence" of chemical attacks emerges.Earlier, London Mayor Mr Johnson said a new motion could be debated if "better evidence" of chemical attacks emerges.
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:
Last week, the government lost a Commons vote on supporting in principle action against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government by 13 votes.Last week, the government lost a Commons vote on supporting in principle action against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government by 13 votes.
Thirty-nine Conservative and Liberal Democrat MPs sided with Labour to bring the defeat, with several senior ministers conceding that the question would not be asked again.Thirty-nine Conservative and Liberal Democrat MPs sided with Labour to bring the defeat, with several senior ministers conceding that the question would not be asked again.
An ICM poll for the BBC - speaking to 1,000 people by telephone between Friday and Monday - suggested that nearly three-quarters of people believed that MPs had taken the right decision, and believed that it would not harm US-UK relations.An ICM poll for the BBC - speaking to 1,000 people by telephone between Friday and Monday - suggested that nearly three-quarters of people believed that MPs had taken the right decision, and believed that it would not harm US-UK relations.
The poll suggests that almost half of those questioned - 49% - thought the vote would hurt Britain's international reputation.The poll suggests that almost half of those questioned - 49% - thought the vote would hurt Britain's international reputation.
Mr Johnson, a Conservative, said a new proposal "inviting British participation" in military action could still be put before UK politicians,Mr Johnson, a Conservative, said a new proposal "inviting British participation" in military action could still be put before UK politicians,
He wrote in the Daily Telegraph: "If there is new and better evidence that inculpates 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.He wrote in the Daily Telegraph: "If there is new and better evidence that inculpates 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.
"The Labour leader has been capering around pretending to have stopped an attack on Syria - when his real position has been more weaselly."The Labour leader has been capering around pretending to have stopped an attack on Syria - when his real position has been more weaselly.
"If you add the Tories and Blairites together, there is a natural majority for a calibrated and limited response to a grotesque war crime.""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".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".
Former International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell told the BBC the position had "changed substantially" since last Thursday's vote and in light of the new intelligence emerging "maybe the House of Commons would reach a different view".
"We certainly should keep our options open and that should certainly include the possibility of this returning to the House of Commons for further discussions and a further decision," he told Radio 4's World at One.
But, questioned at a press conference in Hammersmith, west London, Mr Clegg said: "We're not going to go back to Parliament with the same question on the same issue, in response to the same atrocity the week before last, because that decision was made by Parliament.But, questioned at a press conference in Hammersmith, west London, Mr Clegg said: "We're not going to go back to Parliament with the same question on the same issue, in response to the same atrocity the week before last, because that decision was made by Parliament.
"We've made it very clear to our international partners that that is our decision now.""We've made it very clear to our international partners that that is our decision now."
He also said: "I can't foresee any circumstances when we will go back to Parliament again on the same question on the same issue. We did last Thursday and the answer was very clear."He also said: "I can't foresee any circumstances when we will go back to Parliament again on the same question on the same issue. We did last Thursday and the answer was very clear."
Mr Clegg acknowledged that "entirely different circumstances, of course, might require an entirely different set of decisions" but said he would not be drawn on "hypotheticals".Mr Clegg acknowledged that "entirely different circumstances, of course, might require an entirely different set of decisions" but said he would not be drawn on "hypotheticals".
The prime minister's official spokesman also told reporters the government "has absolutely no plans to go back to Parliament".The prime minister's official spokesman also told reporters the government "has absolutely no plans to go back to Parliament".
He said the UK would continue to make the case for a robust response to President Assad at the G20 later this week.He said the UK would continue to make the case for a robust response to President Assad at the G20 later this week.
On Sunday shadow defence secretary Jim Murphy said there was "unease about the outcome of the vote".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, Foreign Secretary 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, Foreign Secretary 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.
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.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.
President Assad blames opposition forces for the attack on 21 August and says his country will defend itself against any Western "aggression".President Assad blames opposition forces for the attack on 21 August and says his country will defend itself against any Western "aggression".
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.