Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
(UK) Ed Miliband hardens criteria for Syria strike
Source: The Guardian
Ed Miliband hardens criteria for Syria strike
Nicholas Watt, chief political correspondent
The Guardian, Monday 2 September 2013 22.45 BST
Ed Miliband has hardened his position over Syria by saying that Labour would only support military action against the Assad regime if Britain's national security was threatened or al-Qaida and its affiliates gained possession of large stockpiles of chemical weapons.
In a significant toughening of its stance, the Labour leadership has decided there would have to be a "very significant change" in circumstances to allow Britain to join any operation in Syria.
The move comes amid growing criticism among frontbenchers and other Labour MPs about Miliband's handling of Syria. During the runup to the votes in parliament last week, the Labour leader said he was seeking to secure a proper legal and political underpinning to justify British military involvement after the chemical weapons attack on 21 August.
Labour made clear last week that it accepted the attack justified a military response if a definitive link could be established to the Assad regime, if action was deemed lawful and if the UN was properly consulted.
[font size=1]-snip-[/font]
Nicholas Watt, chief political correspondent
The Guardian, Monday 2 September 2013 22.45 BST
Ed Miliband has hardened his position over Syria by saying that Labour would only support military action against the Assad regime if Britain's national security was threatened or al-Qaida and its affiliates gained possession of large stockpiles of chemical weapons.
In a significant toughening of its stance, the Labour leadership has decided there would have to be a "very significant change" in circumstances to allow Britain to join any operation in Syria.
The move comes amid growing criticism among frontbenchers and other Labour MPs about Miliband's handling of Syria. During the runup to the votes in parliament last week, the Labour leader said he was seeking to secure a proper legal and political underpinning to justify British military involvement after the chemical weapons attack on 21 August.
Labour made clear last week that it accepted the attack justified a military response if a definitive link could be established to the Assad regime, if action was deemed lawful and if the UN was properly consulted.
[font size=1]-snip-[/font]
Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/02/ed-miliband-syria-strike
1 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
