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-wales-politics-29381266
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Hain backs Islamic State air strikes despite misgivings | Hain backs Islamic State air strikes despite misgivings |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| Former Foreign Office minister Peter Hain has said he backs air strikes against Islamic State militants in Iraq despite feeling "deeply allergic" to more Middle Eastern interventions. | Former Foreign Office minister Peter Hain has said he backs air strikes against Islamic State militants in Iraq despite feeling "deeply allergic" to more Middle Eastern interventions. |
| It came as MPs were recalled to Parliament to discuss whether Britain should take part in military action. | It came as MPs were recalled to Parliament to discuss whether Britain should take part in military action. |
| But Plaid Cymru MP Hywel Williams warned MPs air strikes would kill civilians and "radicalise" the young. | But Plaid Cymru MP Hywel Williams warned MPs air strikes would kill civilians and "radicalise" the young. |
| MPs backed UK involvement in the attacks by by 524 votes to 43. | |
| Mr Hain, MP for Neath, told the Commons he had been wrong to back the 2003 invasion of Iraq over weapons of mass destruction. | Mr Hain, MP for Neath, told the Commons he had been wrong to back the 2003 invasion of Iraq over weapons of mass destruction. |
| "We went to war on a lie and the aftermath was disastrous," he said. | "We went to war on a lie and the aftermath was disastrous," he said. |
| Meanwhile Mr Williams, Arfon MP, said he opposed airstrikes. | Meanwhile Mr Williams, Arfon MP, said he opposed airstrikes. |
| 'Crush' | 'Crush' |
| "It is disturbing that the prime minister has said that we must not allow past mistakes to become an excuse for inaction," he said. | "It is disturbing that the prime minister has said that we must not allow past mistakes to become an excuse for inaction," he said. |
| "The shadow of the Iraq war still looms large - surely we should be learning from history, not forgetting it." | "The shadow of the Iraq war still looms large - surely we should be learning from history, not forgetting it." |
| Cynon Valley Labour MP Ann Clwyd, a former special envoy on human rights in Iraq, said she supported the motion but did not think that air strikes would be enough to crush the militants. | Cynon Valley Labour MP Ann Clwyd, a former special envoy on human rights in Iraq, said she supported the motion but did not think that air strikes would be enough to crush the militants. |
| "The Iraqi army are apparently not ready to do this, are not properly trained to do this, and you can't depend on the Peshmerga... a small group of soldiers who have been defending their own homeland," she said. | "The Iraqi army are apparently not ready to do this, are not properly trained to do this, and you can't depend on the Peshmerga... a small group of soldiers who have been defending their own homeland," she said. |
| "They can't possibly be responsible for defending the whole of Iraq - that is just pie in the sky." | "They can't possibly be responsible for defending the whole of Iraq - that is just pie in the sky." |
| One of the strongest Welsh voices against intervention was Newport West MP Paul Flynn. | One of the strongest Welsh voices against intervention was Newport West MP Paul Flynn. |
| 'Hatreds' | 'Hatreds' |
| He said: "This motion is the thin end of a bloody and ugly wedge that will grow and expand and mission creep into a prolonged war with unforeseeable consequences. | |
| "We're falling into vortex of hatreds in the Middle East that are ancient and deep and once we start this process, it will be almost impossible in the future to extricate ourselves from it." | "We're falling into vortex of hatreds in the Middle East that are ancient and deep and once we start this process, it will be almost impossible in the future to extricate ourselves from it." |
| Prime Minister David Cameron opened the debate on Friday saying the UK had a "duty" to confront the threat from Islamic State, and that joining the US-led air strikes would be "clearly lawful". | Prime Minister David Cameron opened the debate on Friday saying the UK had a "duty" to confront the threat from Islamic State, and that joining the US-led air strikes would be "clearly lawful". |
| After a seven-hour debate, MPs voted for military action with a majority of 481. Follow the debate and its aftermath by clicking here. |