What YOUR MP had to say about how they voted in the Syrian air strike debate

MPs have been explaining their decisions on the crucial Commons vote which has given the green light to British air strikes in Syria.
Prime Minister David Cameron speaking during the debate in the House of Commons on extending the bombing campaign against Islamic State to Syria. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday December 2, 2015. See PA story POLITICS Syria. Photo credit should read: PA WirePrime Minister David Cameron speaking during the debate in the House of Commons on extending the bombing campaign against Islamic State to Syria. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday December 2, 2015. See PA story POLITICS Syria. Photo credit should read: PA Wire
Prime Minister David Cameron speaking during the debate in the House of Commons on extending the bombing campaign against Islamic State to Syria. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday December 2, 2015. See PA story POLITICS Syria. Photo credit should read: PA Wire

This is what out MPs had to say:

Gloria De Piero MP - Labour MP for Ashfield and Eastwood (FOR): “I contacted every constituent I have an email address for and that is over 4,000 people - to ask for their opinion and I received hundreds of strong arguments on both sides. This was not an easy decision for me, and I remained undecided right until the last moment but we should be in no doubt the danger Isil/Daesh present. I can’t stand by when we know about their beheadings, crucifixions, throwing gay men off buildings, the enslavement of women and the discovery of a mass graves and the other atrocities carried out across the globe in places such as Paris, Tunisia and Beirut.

“If we needed our allies to come to our aid, I would hope they would do the same. There are of course legitimate arguments not to engage in this action, and I respect the views and decisions of everyone who has contributed to this complex debate, but I believe we must now confront this evil.”

Election night in Ashfield at Festival Hall - Kirkby-in-Ashfield. Gloria De Piero Labour candidate.Election night in Ashfield at Festival Hall - Kirkby-in-Ashfield. Gloria De Piero Labour candidate.
Election night in Ashfield at Festival Hall - Kirkby-in-Ashfield. Gloria De Piero Labour candidate.

John Mann MP - Labour MP for Bassetlaw (AGAINST): “I have no problem with the ethics or morality of the UK being involved in military action to remove ISIS. They are a terrorist force that will continue their attempts to murder and enslave everyone who refuses to bow to their ideology and continue to attack the West. However the proposal from David Cameron will fail.

“A few extra planes attacking defined targets in Syria are neither a solution, nor are they much assistance. This approach is more of a gesture. Syria needs more than gestures.

“What is needed is a UN mandate for unified military action, led by Arab nations, with the Russians and others. We should play our part in winning such a mandate and in then delivering it.”

Mark Spencer MP - Conservative MP for Sherwood (FOR): “ I believe it makes no sense to bomb Isil-Daesh in Iraq but to let them operate unhindered in Syria, from where they can plan and launch attacks. I do not agree with the argument that bombing them in Syria will make the UK more of a target; we are already very much a target, as the 7 foiled terror plots against the UK in 2015 show. The UK must stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our allies and I would expect the same support from them if the dreadful events that took place in Paris had happened instead in London.”

John MannJohn Mann
John Mann

Sir Alan Meale MP - Labour MP for MansfielD (AGAINST): “I went to all the meetings ans I listened to the debate and I just wasn’t convinced. What we are talking about here is bombs and people’s lives and I just don’t think they made the case for extending the bombing. They don’t know how many bombs they need and this is more about joining a coalition. There are enough bombs being dropped already and I’m not sure that there is the need for the UK to get involved.”

Anna Soubry MP - Conservative MP for Broxtowe (FOR): “The United Nations has called on all member states to take ‘all necessary action’ against ISIL because it recognises the unprecedented threat that ISIL poses to us all.

“France’s President has specifically called on Great Britain to join his country in defeating ISIL, following the terrible murders in Paris a few weeks ago - President Hollande has asked us to join France in air strikes against ISIL in Syria.

“I am aware that some constituents believe that extending air strikes against ISIL into Syria is in some way the same as the invasion of Iraq in 2003 - something I was opposed to and would not have voted for if I had been an MP. Extending air strikes into Syria is in no way the same as the invasion of Iraq, our intervention in Libya or indeed our long campaign in Afghanistan.”

Bolsover election count 2010 - Dennis SkinnerBolsover election count 2010 - Dennis Skinner
Bolsover election count 2010 - Dennis Skinner

Dennis Skinner MP - Labour MP for Bolsover (AGAINST): “Isn’t it essential in any prelude to a war to be sure of your allies and to be sure of your objectives. Isn’t it a fact that Turkey has been buying oil from Isil and they use Turkey’s trucks to store it.

“They have been bombing the Kurds and the Kurds are fighting Isil, they shot down a Russian jet even though Russia is looking to fight Isil. He (David Cameron) has got an agenda to get rid of Assad, a Russian Allie, which has got the opposite objective.

“What a crazy war! Enemies to the right of us, enemies to the left of us. Keep out!”

Graham Allen MP - Labour MP for Nottingham North (AGAINST): “Over the last week or so it has become very clear that Parliament is totally united in wanting to do the best it can to defeat Islamic State. Indeed, the desire to bomb Syria stems from this motive but we need to be much smarter in building a long term strategy. A reflex is not enough.

“Indeed our ‘shoot first, rebuild maybe’ interventions in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya are the very reasons the Pandora’s Box of religious fundamentalism were opened in the first place.

“We failed to have a strategy for peace and had no clear exit strategy. It looks as though the current Prime Minister is repeating these mistakes.”

Pictured: Prime Minister David Cameron speaking in the debate. Gloria De Piero, John Mann and Dennis Skinner

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