MP suggests policy influenced by possible US change of stance
Yesterday afternoon in the House of Commons, the Foreign Secretary, Rt Hon William Hague MP, made a Statement on Syria. This followed comments over the weekend which suggested a change in Government thinking and John’s Urgent Question in the House on Monday. The Foreign Secretary explained that the situation was deteriorating, and that the UK would be stepping up its non-lethal support, and would not rule out any options.
John said,
“I urge caution. Human rights groups have confirmed that atrocities have been committed by both sides, and by arming the rebels we could be arming the terrorists of the future, as well as escalating the violence.”
“May I bring the Foreign Secretary back to the comments he made over the weekend, which clearly indicated a change in thinking about non-lethal support, despite what we were told in this House on Monday? To what extent were his comments a reflection of reports we are now getting that President Obama is thinking of changing his policy on this issue?”
The Foreign Secretary said that he had never ruled out any options. What the Government is planning to do is closely related to what the US has announced, but neither country is advocating the policy to which John is strongly opposed.
John said afterwards,
“We risk getting embroiled in a bloody civil war, which can only escalate the violence, and yet provide no guarantee of friendship even if the rebels won. Our arming of Iraq and the Mujahedeen clearly illustrates the pitfalls of such a policy.”
Ends
Word Count: 274
Date: 6th March 2013
Notes to Editors:
- For more information, please see John’s press release of 4th March [‘John Baron MP presses Government over Syria’].
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