John Baron MP presses Prime Minister for debate and vote assurance over Syria

MP wants Commons debate and vote before arming any Syrian rebels

Today in the House of Commons, the Prime Minister, Rt Hon David Cameron MP, made a Statement regarding the EU Council and the murder of Fusilier Rigby in Woolwich. John Baron MP took the opportunity to raise concerns about the lifting of the EU arms embargo and the possible arming of the Syrian rebels.

John said,

“The Foreign Secretary may well update the House on decisions made, but will the Prime Minister take this opportunity to confirm once and for all that if a decision is made to arm the rebels, then he will come to the House to allow a debate and vote on the matter before the policy is executed?”

The Prime Minister did not answer the question directly, but said that Parliament has many opportunities to question the Government of the day.

John said afterwards,

“Whatever the diplomatic ‘ins and outs’, we have moved closer towards arming the rebels. This is madness. We can not guarantee that arms will not fall into the hands of extremists, including al-Qaeda. Throwing more weapons into the civil war will also escalate the violence and suffering. Parliament must have the opportunity to express its view before any policy is implemented.”

“This civil war is also a proxy war for various conflicts, including Sunni versus Shia; the West versus Russia and China; Iran versus Saudi Arabia; and the concern of the Alawite and Christian minorities for what might follow. Arming the rebels would extend the violence both within Syria and beyond its borders.”