MP questions FCO Minister This morning John Baron MP secured an Urgent Question on the Government’s strategy against Islamic State (IS). The Minister for Europe, Rt Hon David Lidington MP, responded for the Government. This follows discrepancies between the Foreign Secretary and Number 10 regarding Government strategy on IS in the wake of President...
Read more »
MP says Parliament should be updated Overnight, President Obama set out US policy against the Islamic State (IS). This morning in the House of Commons, during Business Questions, John Baron MP asked the Leader of the House, Rt Hon William Hague MP, whether there would be a statement tomorrow to update Parliament on the...
Read more »
MP highlights dangers of Syrian intervention The President of the United States, Barack Obama, has outlined the US strategy to defeat the Islamic State (IS). This will see air strikes against IS targets, both in Iraq and in Syria; increased support for ground forces fighting IS (with the exception of al-Assad’s forces); increased counter-terrorist...
Read more »
MP says Syrian strikes are ill-advised As the Government considers its response to the threat posed by the Islamic State (IS), there is speculation that the Prime Minister will soon announce plans for military strikes against the extremists, in concert with Western and regional allies. These would take place in Northern Iraq, but may...
Read more »
MP says Iraqi Army is ‘elephant in the room’ John Baron MP has cautioned against mission creep by the West in Iraq. He has called for more urgent action to get the Iraqi Army ‘fit for purpose’, and support from Gulf allies if necessary. John said, “Talk of further military involvement by the West...
Read more »
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...
Read more »
MP says Iraq situation can be traced to invasion John Baron MP has responded to Tony Blair’s comments over the weekend that the present situation in Iraq has in large part been caused by the West’s refusal to intervene in Syria. John said, “Old habits die hard. We went to war in Iraq on...
Read more »
MP also points to Libya and Afghanistan Following the news from northern Iraq, John Baron MP warns of the dangers of intervention. John resigned from the shadow Front Bench to vote against the Iraq war in 2003, and was the only Conservative to vote against both Afghanistan and Libya. John said, “One of the...
Read more »
MP says Iraq still casts a long shadow Today in the House of Commons there was a Debate marking the 10th Anniversary of the Iraq War. John Baron MP used the opportunity to highlight key lessons that can be taken from that period and which are still relevant today. John said: “Although we...
Read more »