MP says grand strategy needed to defeat Daesh, not just air strikes Following the attacks in Paris on Friday, the Government is once again raising the issue of air strikes against Daesh targets in Syria. However, many Parliamentarians are cautious about the use of air strikes, believing instead that an overarching strategy is needed...
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Foreign Affairs
John Baron MP cautions against PM’s response to Paris attacks
John Baron MP responds to Prime Minister’s EU Letter
Relying on other Parliaments to block unwanted EU legislation is not sovereignty Today the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President of the European Council, formally setting out the EU reforms the British Government is seeking ahead of the EU referendum. The proposals envisage reform of the EU’s economic governance, its competitiveness, member...
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John Baron comments on FAC Syria report
MP says coordination with Russia and Iran essential Today the Foreign Affairs Committee (FAC), the group of cross-party back bench MPs who scrutinise the work of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, published its report into military action on Syria. The report cautions against extending RAF air strikes to Syria absent a full strategy to...
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John Baron MP: Syrian ‘Embed’ programme shows Government insensitivity to Parliament
MP says the trust of Parliament is paramount Today the Secretary of State made a Statement in the House explaining how it had come about that British RAF personnel have been involved in military strikes against Daesh in Syria, despite Parliament making clear its view on multiple occasions that there should be no British...
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John Baron MP calls on Government to explain British military involvement in Syria
MP says Parliament has made clear its views against military action This morning the media reported that British RAF personnel had been involved in military strikes against Daesh in Syria, despite Parliament making clear its view on multiple occasions that there should be no British involvement in military action in Syria. The RAF personnel...
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John Baron MP congratulates Foreign Secretary on Iranian nuclear deal
MP reflects on lost vote in 2012 (285-6) Yesterday it was announced that the negotiators of the ‘P5+1’ and Iran have succeeded in striking a deal over the Iranian nuclear programme. This deal aims to resolve over a decade of international concern over the Iranian nuclear weapons...
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John Baron MP questions Government on reserve recruitment
MP says Reservist plans remain high-risk Today in the House of Commons, John Baron MP questioned the Minister for Reserves, Julian Brazier MP, about the Government’s plans to replace 20,000 Regular troops with 30,000 Reservists. John’s question centred around the fact that the Major Projects Authority (a Government body working out of the Cabinet...
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John Baron MP welcomes Chancellor’s Budget commitment to spending 2% of GDP on defence
MP cautions against combining spending from outside MoD budget During his Budget speech in the House of Commons this afternoon, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rt Hon George Osborne MP, announced that the Government will meet the NATO commitment to spend at least 2% of GDP on defence. John and other MPs have long...
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John Baron MP supports ‘Daesh’ campaign
MP says ‘Daesh’ preferable to IS, ISIS or ISIL John Baron MP has leant his support to the campaign to persuade the Government and the BBC to refer to the so-called ‘Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant’ (also known as IS, ISIL or ISIS) as ‘Daesh’. This would bring the BBC and Government...
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John Baron MP cautions against air strikes in Syria
MP says questions remain about efforts to combat Daesh The Secretary of State for Defence, Rt Hon Michael Fallon MP, has suggested that MPs consider extending RAF air strikes to Syria. At the moment, following the Parliamentary vote on 26th September 2014, the RAF is only authorised to conduct anti-Daesh air strikes in Iraq....
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