John Baron MP supports US air strikes against ISIS

MP says little need to recall Parliament

Responding to recent events in northern Iraq, John Baron MP said,

“The situation in northern Iraq is desperate and harrowing. The Government is right to focus on humanitarian support to alleviate the suffering amongst displaced and harried communities. Given our recent, if misguided, involvement in Iraq, we are also right to support American air strikes against ISIS, as long as they continue to enjoy the support of the Iraqi Government.”

“More broadly, the old regional fault-lines are making themselves felt. The days of the Sykes-Picot Agreement – ‘running from the ‘E’ in ‘Acre’ to the last ‘K’ in Kirkuk’ – may already be behind us. We must be prepared for further upheavals, but also to recognise the limits of what Western intervention could achieve.”

“At this stage, I do not see the need to recall Parliament. Unlike Syria last year, there is no clear decision for Parliament to take, and Parliamentarians no doubt support the RAF’s humanitarian actions. We must however continue to follow developments closely.”