UK Airstrikes Against ISIL in Syria — Decline to Authorise — 2 Dec 2015 at 22:00

The majority of MPs voted to support UK airstrikes against ISIL in Syria

MPs were considering a motion stating:

• That this House
• notes that ISIL poses a direct threat to the United Kingdom;
• welcomes United Nations Security Council Resolution 2249 which determines that ISIL constitutes an ‘unprecedented threat to international peace and security’ and
• calls on states to take ‘all necessary measures’ to prevent terrorist acts by ISIL and to ‘eradicate the safe haven they have established over significant parts of Iraq and Syria’;
• further notes the clear legal basis to defend the UK and our allies in accordance with the UN Charter;
• notes that military action against ISIL is only one component of a broader strategy to bring peace and stability to Syria;
• welcomes the renewed impetus behind the Vienna talks on a ceasefire and political settlement;
• welcomes the Government’s continuing commitment to providing humanitarian support to Syrian refugees;
• underlines the importance of planning for post-conflict stabilisation and reconstruction in Syria;
• welcomes the Government’s continued determination to cut ISIL’s sources of finance, fighters and weaponsg
• notes the requests from France, the US and regional allies for UK military assistance;
• acknowledges the importance of seeking to avoid civilian casualties, using the UK’s particular capabilities;
• notes the Government will not deploy UK troops in ground combat operations; welcomes the Government’s commitment to provide quarterly progress reports to the House; and accordingly
• supports Her Majesty’s Government in taking military action, specifically airstrikes, exclusively against ISIL in Syria; and offers its wholehearted support to Her Majesty’s Armed Forces.

The amendment rejected by the majority of MPs in this vote was:

• Amendment : (b), leave out from ‘That this House’ to end and add
• while welcoming the renewed impetus towards peace and reconstruction in Syria, and the Government’s recognition that a comprehensive strategy against Daesh is required, does not believe that the case for the UK’s participation in the ongoing air campaign in Syria by 10 countries has been made under current circumstances, and consequently declines to authorise military action in Syria.

The effect of the rejected amendment would have been to delete the substantive text from the original motion and replace it with that contained in the amendment.

Debate in Parliament | Source |