British Parliament set to vote on Syria air strikes today
Date
12/2/2015 4:05:20 AM
(MENAFN- Asia Times) Anti-war protesters demonstrate against proposals to bomb Syria outside the Houses of Parliament in London Tuesday
Prime Minister David Cameron has said he believes British war planes which have been bombing IS targets in Iraq for more than a year should also be tackling the group in Syria rather than “sub-contract” UK security to other countries.
The election of veteran anti-war campaigner Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader in September complicated his plans. Corbyn has accused the British leader of rushing to war and has appealed to Labour MPs who favor military action to think again.
On Tuesday Cameron calledCorbyn and his allies as sympathizers of terrorists.
British Prime Minister David Cameron (L) described Labour leader Corbyn and his allies as sympathizers of terrorists
Some Labour MPs were left in tears after hard-left activists told them they will be murdering women and babies if they vote for Syrian bombing. One MP received a photo of a dead child with a warning this will be predicament if they vote for air strikes in Syria.
One Labour MP said Corbyn's office is trying to force moderate Labour MPs into voting against military action bycirculating the contact details of MPs who are still undecided.
Keen to avoid a repeat of a damaging 2013 parliamentary defeat over plans to bomb the forces of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad Cameron had made it clear he would not bring a vote to parliament if he did not think he could win it.
He is now all but assured of winning parliamentary backing after Corbyn said he would allow his MPs to vote according to their conscience — breaking with a tradition for leaders to instruct MPs how to vote on big decisions.
Media reports say about 50 Labour MPs will back action and 10 to 15 Conservative rebels will vote against military action when the vote takes place late on Wednesday after 10-1/2 hours of debate in parliament.
Air strikes could begin within days.
When parliament approved strikes on Iraq the bombing began four days later.