MPs reject military action against Syria

Thirty conservative and nine Liberal democrat MPs voted against joining a potential US-led military attack against Syria.

16:28 30 August 2013

MPs have voted against UK military action against Syrian government to deter the use of chemical weapons. Thirty conservative and nine liberal democrats cast the No vote. Labour leader Ed Miliband said that House of Commons had spoken for the people in Britain.

He said: "People are deeply concerned about the chemical weapons attacks in Syria, but they want us to learn the lessons of Iraq.”
"They don't want a rush to war. They want things done in the right way, working with the international community."

He added: Britain "doesn't need reckless and impulsive leadership, it needs calm and measured leadership".

Meanwhile, Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said he and the Prime Minister were disappointed with MP’s decision in BBC’s Newsnight programme. He added that this decision could affect the country’s special relationship with Washington.

After the vote, David Cameron said: “It is clear to me that the British parliament… does not want to see military action.”