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Syria crisis: Hammond plays down chances of new MPs' vote Syria crisis: Hammond plays down chances of new MPs' vote
(about 5 hours later)
The defence secretary has said MPs could be asked to vote again on action in Syria, but only if circumstances changed "very significantly".The defence secretary has said MPs could be asked to vote again on action in Syria, but only if circumstances changed "very significantly".
Labour urged Philip Hammond to "spell out" what would change his mind, after the coalition accepted the defeat of its Commons motion last week.Labour urged Philip Hammond to "spell out" what would change his mind, after the coalition accepted the defeat of its Commons motion last week.
But he said it was a "bit rich" of the opposition to "demand" answers, having led protests against action.But he said it was a "bit rich" of the opposition to "demand" answers, having led protests against action.
Meanwhile, the US has delayed strikes pending the approval of Congress.Meanwhile, the US has delayed strikes pending the approval of Congress.
Secretary of State John Kerry now says America has evidence the chemical nerve agent sarin was used by President Bashar al-Assad's government 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 by President Bashar al-Assad's government in a deadly attack in Damascus last month.
In other developments:In other developments:
Last week, the government lost a Commons vote on supporting action, in principle, against Assad's government by 13 votes.Last week, the government lost a Commons vote on supporting action, in principle, against Assad's government by 13 votes.
Thirty-nine Conservative and Liberal Democrat MPs sided with Labour to bring about the defeat, with several senior ministers since conceding that the question would not be asked again.Thirty-nine Conservative and Liberal Democrat MPs sided with Labour to bring about the defeat, with several senior ministers since 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.
In the Commons, Labour's shadow defence secretary Jim Murphy said to Mr Hammond: "After the vote, the prime minister ruled out UK involvement in military action in Syria. The government, of course, will remain engaged diplomatically and on aid policy.In the Commons, Labour's shadow defence secretary Jim Murphy said to Mr Hammond: "After the vote, the prime minister ruled out UK involvement in military action in Syria. The government, of course, will remain engaged diplomatically and on aid policy.
"But will you spell out in what, if any, circumstances changes in Syria or internationally the government would bring back to Parliament the issue of UK military involvement in Syria?""But will you spell out in what, if any, circumstances changes in Syria or internationally the government would bring back to Parliament the issue of UK military involvement in Syria?"
Mr Hammond replied: "It's a bit rich for you, who last week trooped into the lobbies behind your leader, giving rise to the very situation we now find ourselves in, to demand I tell you precisely in which circumstances we might revisit this issue.Mr Hammond replied: "It's a bit rich for you, who last week trooped into the lobbies behind your leader, giving rise to the very situation we now find ourselves in, to demand I tell you precisely in which circumstances we might revisit this issue.
"I've said already we believe Parliament has spoken clearly on this issue and is unlikely to want to revisit it unless the circumstances change very significantly.""I've said already we believe Parliament has spoken clearly on this issue and is unlikely to want to revisit it unless the circumstances change very significantly."
The BBC's James Landale said Labour sources had cited examples of what would need to change - such as al-Qaeda getting possession of huge stocks of chemical weapons or a direct threat to UK national security emerging - for Parliament to reconsider the matter.
David Cameron and several of his ministers have ruled out military action against Syria following last week's vote.David Cameron and several of his ministers have ruled out military action against Syria following last week's vote.
But Conservative London Mayor Boris Johnson insisted a new proposal "inviting British participation" could still be put before Parliament,But Conservative London Mayor Boris Johnson insisted a new proposal "inviting British participation" could still be put before Parliament,
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".
'Options open''Options open'
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".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."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 London, Deputy Prime Minister Nick 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 London, Deputy Prime Minister Nick 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 had "absolutely no plans to go back to Parliament".The prime minister's official spokesman also told reporters the government had "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.
'Helping al-Qaeda''Helping al-Qaeda'
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.
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.