Islwyn MP Chris Evans joined Labour colleague Gerald Jones, the MP for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney, and voted against the UK Government motion to carry out air strikes in Syria against Islamic State (IS).
Last night, MPs voted in favour of bombing IS, also known as ISIL or Daesh, by 397 votes to 223 after ten hours of debate in the House of Commons.
Caerphilly MP Wayne David, who is a Shadow Justice Minister, voted in favour of the air strikes, which have already started, stating that he would not “flinch from doing the right thing”.
Mr Evans, who was undecided ahead of yesterday’s vote, said he had opposed military action with a “heavy heart”.
He said: “The events in Paris and in Tunisia underline the threat that Daesh/ISIL pose to the safety and security of our way of life. They show the risk our citizens face from this evil death cult. In the past six months alone British security and intelligence services have prevented seven attacks on our soil. The horrific murders we saw in Paris could have easily happened on the streets of London, Edinburgh or Cardiff.
“With this in mind I have kept an open mind to the case for airstrikes. It is clear that the Middle East and the world cannot be safe while Daesh/ISIL exists. An organisation that sanctions the use of rape of women and the murder of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people as a weapon of war, while maiming, killing and torturing anyone who does not subscribe to their twisted ideology – they cannot be allowed to exist.’
“We need a comprehensive strategy to bring an end to the Syrian civil war and eradicate this death cult which, at least, inspired the Paris attacks. However, I do not believe that the strategy outlined by the Prime Minister achieves this.”
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was opposed to the air strikes but had given his MPs a free vote in the issue, with many backing the Conservative-led UK Government.
“We need a comprehensive strategy to bring an end to the Syrian civil war”.
How about we butt out for once, might that work? Interfering doesn’t seem to have worked, when you’re in a hole stop digging.
Some might argue that the west is responsible for this mess so therefore we cannot simply wash our hands of it. It would be my reply that there is no satisfactory end scenario to the ME debacle which we can be a part of so what’s the point? People are going to suffer and die if we are there or not.
Do you honestly think sitting back and doing nothing will suddenly make the UK safe?
News in: it will not.
There would be an argument for it if no intervention ever took place, but the past is the past and today is today.
Here’s some news for you bucket. All our interference hasn’t made Britain safe so far has it. It has actually led to terrorist attacks on British soil. I merely suggest we try something else for a change and concentrate the massive expenditure on our own streets as apposed to other people’s. £800k for a missile? I know a local constabulary that could do with that and I’m fairly sure our clandestine security services could spend the money for more effectively. Sending our armed forces off to blow up a goat shed in Syria in the hope of hitting an idiot with an ak47? Not wise.
I would agree with you when you say that the past is the past and today is today but I would also suggest that Statement doesn’t support any argument.
The terrorists attacks would be happening in far greater numbers if we did not do anything. Terrorist attacks will happen even if we do nothing.
£800k for a Stormshadow. However the smaller Brimstones and Paveways IV will be used at a more reasonable £100k a shot.
The statement support continued action. Terrorist attacks are going to happen so there are three responses that can be done. 1. Military action in Syria, 2. Nothing, or 3. Invest in MI6 and police. I fully support the government in choosing two out of those three options.
So do I! Options 2 and 3 please. That way we might not make things worse and can try to limit the damage already done.