Weekly news 21
Cameron wins Syria airstrikes vote by majority of 174 – as it happened
Britain will join the coalition of nations conducting airstrikes against Islamic State militants in Syria after MPs in the House of Commons voted to authorise the UK’s participation. MPs voted 397 to 223 in favour of sending RAF Tornados into the skies over Syria, after an all-day debate in parliament. As Patrick Wintour reports, 66 Labour MPs backed the government in defiance of the party leader,Jeremy Corbyn. In a day of soul searching, recrimination and often heartfelt speeches, it became clear David Cameron was guaranteed a clear overall majority. Corbyn, who was forced by divisions in his party to give his MPs a free vote, will be pleased that a majority of his MPs and nearly half the shadow cabinet opposed strikes. But his foreign affairs spokesman, Hilary Benn, prompted rare applause when he gave an impassioned speech, regarded as the best of the debate, in favour of strikes. “We are here faced by fascists. Not just their calculated brutality, but their belief that they are superior to every single one of us in this chamber tonight and all of the people we represent. They hold us in contempt,” he said.
Britain will join the coalition of nations conducting airstrikes against Islamic State militants in Syria after MPs in the House of Commons voted to authorise the UK’s participation. MPs voted 397 to 223 in favour of sending RAF Tornados into the skies over Syria, after an all-day debate in parliament. As Patrick Wintour reports, 66 Labour MPs backed the government in defiance of the party leader,Jeremy Corbyn. In a day of soul searching, recrimination and often heartfelt speeches, it became clear David Cameron was guaranteed a clear overall majority. Corbyn, who was forced by divisions in his party to give his MPs a free vote, will be pleased that a majority of his MPs and nearly half the shadow cabinet opposed strikes. But his foreign affairs spokesman, Hilary Benn, prompted rare applause when he gave an impassioned speech, regarded as the best of the debate, in favour of strikes. “We are here faced by fascists. Not just their calculated brutality, but their belief that they are superior to every single one of us in this chamber tonight and all of the people we represent. They hold us in contempt,” he said.
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