A sharply divided British Parliament on Thursday rejected the immediate use of force as a response to suspected chemical attacks in Syria, putting Washington on notice that it would be deprived of the assistance of its most trusted ally if it launches a strike on Damascus in the next few days.
Hours of impassioned debate in the House of Commons culminated in a 285-272 vote against a government motion to condemn the alleged use of poison gas against Syrian rebel strongholds and to uphold military reprisal as a legitimate option against the government of President Bashar Assad.
The surprise defeat for the government of Prime Minister David Cameron does not completely rule out the possibility of British involvement in eventually punishing Assad’s government militarily.
Last weekend, the Labour leader, Ed Milliband was consulted and indicated he was onboard with a military strike. During the week, he started to distance himself. With his support and his party’s, Cameron might have got his motion through today against significant opposition in his own party.
However, having alienated many of his own members with the gay marriage legislation in which Cameron relied on Labour support to drive through over the opposition of Cameron’s party, when this time Labour refused to back Cameron’s leadership on this issue, Cameron’s party could and did scupper his motion, along with the alternative proposed by Labour for a ‘roadmap’ to action.
That is what happens when you arrogantly ignore the voices of your own loyalists. Perhaps this is something that other shoot-from-the-hip, hectoring, arrogant, Old Etonian, Justin Welby would do well to note, if he is bright enough, which is doubtful.
Hubris and nemesis.
Thank God for the courage of the back benchers. As for Cameron, I have navel lint that is more conservative than him. Britain badly needs a legitimately conservative party. Unfortunately it doesn’t have one.