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MPs and peers to investigate British military personnel joining other forces MPs and peers to investigate British military personnel joining other forces
(about 2 hours later)
A cross-party group of MPs and peers plans to investigate the UK’s practice of embedding military personnel with other forces, following revelations that British pilots seconded to the US military have bombed Syria.A cross-party group of MPs and peers plans to investigate the UK’s practice of embedding military personnel with other forces, following revelations that British pilots seconded to the US military have bombed Syria.
The all-party parliamentary group on drones, which is chaired by Labour deputy leadership candidate Tom Watson, with Tory back-bencher David Davis as vice-chair, has decided to hold an inquiry into British military collaboration with the US when parliament returns from summer recess. The all-party parliamentary group on drones, which is chaired by Labour deputy leadership candidate Tom Watson, with Tory backbencher David Davis as vice-chair, has decided to hold an inquiry into British military collaboration with the US when parliament returns from summer recess.
The increasing closeness of the armed forces of Britain and its allies – particularly the US – was highlighted on Monday when the defence secretary, Michael Fallon, told parliament that “up to 80” British personnel have served as members of the US, Canadian and French armed forces since the start of military action against Isis last August, including pilots who have carried out strikes on targets inside Syria. The increasing closeness of the armed forces of Britain and its allies – particularly the US – was highlighted on Monday when the defence secretary, Michael Fallon, told parliament that “up to 80” British personnel had served as members of the US, Canadian and French armed forces since the start of military action against Isis last August, including pilots who have carried out strikes on targets inside Syria.
The news emerged following a freedom of information request submitted by the legal charity Reprieve, days after Fallon insisted no military action would be taken in Syria without parliamentary approval.The news emerged following a freedom of information request submitted by the legal charity Reprieve, days after Fallon insisted no military action would be taken in Syria without parliamentary approval.
Fallon also revealed that British personnel operated in Mali while seconded to the Dutch and French air forces.Fallon also revealed that British personnel operated in Mali while seconded to the Dutch and French air forces.
Watson told The Guardian: “Our relationship with the US is of huge strategic significance – and the UK is likely to continue embedding personnel – but these arrangements must be transparent and subject to strict safeguards. It is not acceptable for government to avoid the scrutiny of parliament and the public through secret agreements.” Watson said: “Our relationship with the US is of huge strategic significance – and the UK is likely to continue embedding personnel – but these arrangements must be transparent and subject to strict safeguards. It is not acceptable for government to avoid the scrutiny of parliament and the public through secret agreements.”
Dapo Akande, professor of international law at Oxford University, said the inquiry should ask the government what arrangements had been made to deal with the possibility of UK pilots being shot down over Syria. He added that members should ask “about whether or not the UK has any say in what goes on with regard to target selection”.Dapo Akande, professor of international law at Oxford University, said the inquiry should ask the government what arrangements had been made to deal with the possibility of UK pilots being shot down over Syria. He added that members should ask “about whether or not the UK has any say in what goes on with regard to target selection”.
The inquiry will investigate possible UK collaboration with the US in controversial drone operations beyond traditional battlefields. Last month, the Guardian reported on documents provided by NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden that indicate British spies may have shared intelligence that contributed to US drone strikes in Yemen.The inquiry will investigate possible UK collaboration with the US in controversial drone operations beyond traditional battlefields. Last month, the Guardian reported on documents provided by NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden that indicate British spies may have shared intelligence that contributed to US drone strikes in Yemen.
The article prompted Davis and Admiral Lord West, a former head of the Royal Navy and Labour government security minister, to call for the government to come clean on the extent of its intelligence-sharing with the US for covert strikes.The article prompted Davis and Admiral Lord West, a former head of the Royal Navy and Labour government security minister, to call for the government to come clean on the extent of its intelligence-sharing with the US for covert strikes.
Davis said: “This inquiry is vitally important for the public to understand how Britain works with its allies in using drones to deal the future threats. It is a subject area which is already hugely controversial, and while it holds open the possibility of highly effective operations, it is at the risk of hugely damaging and even illegal ones.” Davis said: “This inquiry is vitally important for the public to understand how Britain works with its allies in using drones to deal the future threats. It is a subject area which is already hugely controversial, and while it holds open the possibility of highly effective operations, it is at the risk of hugely damaging and even illegal ones.
He added: “It is very important that the British government treads this fine line very carefully, both in the interests of the British citizens and for our global security.” “It is very important that the British government treads this fine line very carefully, both in the interests of the British citizens and for our global security.”
The group plans to issue a call for evidence after the party conference season, and will examine further areas of US-UK military cooperation, including the practice of sharing military hardware such as drones, and the logistics of training and operating drone fleets. The group plans to issue a call for evidence after the party conference season and will examine further areas of US-UK military cooperation, including the practice of sharing military hardware such as drones, and the logistics of training and operating drone fleets.
Related: British pilots took part in anti-Isis bombing campaign in SyriaRelated: British pilots took part in anti-Isis bombing campaign in Syria
It also plans to examine the arrangements for US personnel operating on British bases, such as RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire, Britain’s first drone base, and UK personnel based in the US. Members plan to visit RAF Waddington, where at least four US personnel have been based in the past, in the course of the inquiry.It also plans to examine the arrangements for US personnel operating on British bases, such as RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire, Britain’s first drone base, and UK personnel based in the US. Members plan to visit RAF Waddington, where at least four US personnel have been based in the past, in the course of the inquiry.
Jennifer Gibson, a staff attorney at Reprieve, told the Guardian: “This parliamentary inquiry is a welcome and much-needed step towards shedding light on what role UK embedded personnel and intelligence are playing. Only then can parliament ensure the proper safeguards are in place to stop it.” Jennifer Gibson, a staff attorney at Reprieve, said: “This parliamentary inquiry is a welcome and much-needed step towards shedding light on what role UK embedded personnel and intelligence are playing. Only then can parliament ensure the proper safeguards are in place to stop it.”
The all-party parliamentary group is currently funded by grants from the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Foundation and the Polden-Puckham Charitable Foundation. The all-party parliamentary group is funded by grants from the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Foundation and the Polden-Puckham Charitable Foundation.