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| * Paul Waugh |
by Paul Waugh | Politics
Of course, it’s not ‘war’ in the usual sense, it’s an extension of RAF bombing from Iraq to Syria. But when the PM gets the Cabinet’s approval this morning for a vote and debate on military action, he’s setting the UK on a course to join a wider coalition whose ultimate aim is to win the war on ISIL.
The sense of urgency in No10 is palpable. PMQs will be scrapped tomorrow and Commons business torn up to allow an all-day debate lasting from 11.30am to 10pm, though it is possible it could go on even later (if even pro-war Labour MPs dig in with Tory constitutional backbenchers who want a fuller debate on such a crucial issue). Government business managers are embarked on their own war of attrition, hoping that more than ten hours debate will satisfy the most sceptical backbencher.
Of course a prosaic reason for squeezing the debate into one marathon session is that the PM has pledged to go to Bulgaria (part of his EU negotiation plan, not least on migrant benefits) on Thursday. The actual Commons motion to be voted on will be ‘inclusive’, say Government sources - covering not just ISIL precision bombing, but reconstruction and the diplomatic route.
What about the numbers? Late last night Philip Hammond said he was ‘confident’. Government whips are expecting around 50 Labour MPs to back the PM. But I’m told that Labour’s own latest best estimate is of around 70, though that number could whittle down. Senior Labour figures like Tom Watson are irritated that Cameron has ignored their pleas for more time and more answers on things like the infamous 70k ground troops claim. What’s made Cameron even more emboldened have been hints from the Lib Dems they will (along with the DUP) back him.
Labour’s Pat McFadden, a shadow foreign office minister, calmly pointed out that Labour had already approved overwhelmingly to bomb ISIL (and many MPs point out this ‘bombing ISIL’ not ‘bombing Syria’) in Iraq last year and this was just an extension of that. As I’ve said before, Corbyn was teller for the Noes in that 2014 Iraq vote.
Later today, the Foreign Affairs Committee meets and could issue a short swift report tonight that is helpful to the Government. Whether the Defence Select does the same is unclear.
Stop the War has an emergency protest outside Parliament at 6pm tonight. Will Jez be on it?
Of course, it’s not ‘war’ in the usual sense, it’s an extension of RAF bombing from Iraq to Syria. But when the PM gets the Cabinet’s approval this morning for a vote and debate on military action, he’s setting the UK on a course to join a wider coalition whose ultimate aim is to win the war on ISIL.
The sense of urgency in No10 is palpable. PMQs will be scrapped tomorrow and Commons business torn up to allow an all-day debate lasting from 11.30am to 10pm, though it is possible it could go on even later (if even pro-war Labour MPs dig in with Tory constitutional backbenchers who want a fuller debate on such a crucial issue). Government business managers are embarked on their own war of attrition, hoping that more than ten hours debate will satisfy the most sceptical backbencher.
Of course a prosaic reason for squeezing the debate into one marathon session is that the PM has pledged to go to Bulgaria (part of his EU negotiation plan, not least on migrant benefits) on Thursday. The actual Commons motion to be voted on will be ‘inclusive’, say Government sources - covering not just ISIL precision bombing, but reconstruction and the diplomatic route.
What about the numbers? Late last night Philip Hammond said he was ‘confident’. Government whips are expecting around 50 Labour MPs to back the PM. But I’m told that Labour’s own latest best estimate is of around 70, though that number could whittle down. Senior Labour figures like Tom Watson are irritated that Cameron has ignored their pleas for more time and more answers on things like the infamous 70k ground troops claim. What’s made Cameron even more emboldened have been hints from the Lib Dems they will (along with the DUP) back him.
Labour’s Pat McFadden, a shadow foreign office minister, calmly pointed out that Labour had already approved overwhelmingly to bomb ISIL (and many MPs point out this ‘bombing ISIL’ not ‘bombing Syria’) in Iraq last year and this was just an extension of that. As I’ve said before, Corbyn was teller for the Noes in that 2014 Iraq vote.
Later today, the Foreign Affairs Committee meets and could issue a short swift report tonight that is helpful to the Government. Whether the Defence Select does the same is unclear.
Stop the War has an emergency protest outside Parliament at 6pm tonight. Will Jez be on it?
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* Paul Waugh is the Executive Editor, Politics, HuffPost UK.
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