Adrian Sanders, Lib Dem MP for Torbay did not attend Thursday’s debate. Writing on his blog, he explains he is:
Currently representing the UK at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in South Africa with other MPs from the Labour and Conservative Parties so was unable to attend the debate. I made it clear that were I present I would have voted against military action.
As other MPs at the conference would have voted the other way, our votes effectively cancelled themselves out. However, I was in touch with all of my Lib Dem colleagues in the UK and urged them to vote against with the result that the Government appears to have been forced to back-track a long way.
Considering the options for action over Syria, he says:
The reality seems to be that whatever we do, there will continue to be much pain and suffering in Syria; the question is whether what we do simply adds to this. The next question is what next. I appreciate many will consider that we need to do ‘something’ but until we really know what this is and what it entails, I would urge extreme caution.
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10 Comments
The Rock of Paignton. Bravo.
A light in our darkness, on this and many other issues.
One more name on the list of the wise and noble few.
The second quote says it all….
In the modern day and age, we have internet banking, internet shopping, and I am told there is even internet sex. Why can’t our MPs get someone to provide them with internet attendance in parliament, and internet voting?
A very good point, well made, dear ‘Richard Dean’. Adrian Saunders would have been able to watch and hear every moment of the peace/war debate. Ergo, why was he denied the right to cast his vote?
And well done for your expressed feelings about the matter, Mr Saunders. Thank you for speaking for what seems to be the majority of we LD rank and file.
I was reading online the views of military chiefs who believe our biggest problem is having no agreed guidelines for what the country should do in various situations. We have guidelines on so many issues both inside and outside the country but nothing agreed on interventions. There is a cross parliamentary group who have worked on this very topic [posted here this last week] but shouldn’t this be debated openly in both Houses of Parliament BEFORE any further interventions? Or are we forever leaving the decisions to the whim of the PM in office at the time? It’s time for grown-up organisation on this highly dangerous topic for the countries in the firing line – which would not prevent debate about each issue but parliamentarians would start from an agreed base and modify as appropriate. The problem this week was in part created by having no guidelines for Iraq other than Mr. Blair’s obedience to G.W.Bush’s whims. There have always been too many whims and not enough reason!
well said Adrian. Good to see principle still alive. Please don’t forget to push for continued aid where possible for those still in Syria, for those displaced into other countries, and also for support for those other countries who are being overwhelmed.
Well done Adrian and well said robdn. I too have heard military spokespeople comment on how we do not have either general guidelines or any kind of strategy for dealing with the latest Syrian problem. Before deciding any kind of action there has to be a worked out strategy which considers not only the immediate consequences but also what could lead to a long-term solution which will have to be political. Simply being seen to be punishing a regime risks achieving nothing other than our own moral satisfaction, while actually punishing most the citizens who will be part of the collateral damage. It was noteworthy on TV tonight that Christians in Syria are opposed to military intervention, not just because they feel Assad gives them more protection than any opposition group would if they gained power, but because (as one of them said) military stikes of any kind would add to the pain and suffering of so many citizens of Syria.
The proper way to deal with anyone breaking international law is through the process of law.
excellent vote to keep us out , and lets start distancing our self from America they only use us to there advantage this so called special relationship word coined by Winston Churchill to appease the British people while America screwed us rotten, but there that’s what they do don’t they , when Churchill asked for help yep buddy cash on the nail no credit and when had no more money well you got assets here in the states, and we sold them at rock bottom prices nice to know you have freinds then we had lend lease and boy did we pay remember America does not do one any favours there is always a hidden agenda but never mind they have there oldest friend now the French well that’s another story