John Baron MP presses Foreign Secretary for further debate and vote on Libya

MP says the mission has changed sufficiently for a further vote

Today in the House of Commons the Rt. Hon. William Hague MP, Foreign Secretary, made a Statement on the Middle East and North Africa. John Baron MP highlighted the change in the mission in Libya and suggested that this warranted a further debate and vote.

John said:

“The debate and vote on Libya was couched in terms of humanitarian aid. Since then, over the recess, it has become clear from the joint statement and from the rejection of the African Union peace proposals that Britain, France and the US will accept nothing less than Gaddafi’s removal. Will the Foreign Secretary therefore now allow a further debate and vote?”

The Foreign Secretary refused the request saying that he did not believe the mission had changed and therefore no further vote was warranted.

John said afterwards:

“There can be little doubt from recent events, including the deployment of military advisers, that regime change is now the objective of our intervention. This is not what we voted on, although some of us suspected regime change was the ulterior motive. The Government’s refusal suggests it is not confident of its case.”