Dear Tim and colleagues,
Have our five tests for bombing Syria been met ?
You have set out 5 conditions for Liberal Democrats to support action by the UK to bomb Syria. When you meet at 5pm today you will decide if those conditions have been satisfied ? Let’s take them one-by-one.
1) LEGAL
UN Resolution 2249 – OK, so we may go ahead and bomb Syria but what about the rest ?
2) WIDER DIPLOMATIC FRAMEWORK INCLUDING NO-BOMB ZONE TO PROTECT CIVILIANS
What, if any, evidence of plans for a no-bomb zone ? None that I have seen. Anyway how can you have a no-bomb zone in Raqqa when innocent, terrorised and enslaved civilians provide a human shield for ISIL ?
3) UK LED PRESSURE ON GULF STATES FOR INCREASED SUPPORT IN THE REGION
What, if any, evidence of such pressure ? As a country we have promoted arms sales to Saudi Arabia and we avoid any chance of offending its rulers, who will easily dismiss any so-called pressure.