Historic humiliation for Cameron as government defeated on Syria vote

politics.co.uk ^ | 29 August 2013 | Ian Dunt

[Berlin_Freeper]

The Commons was the scene of one of the greatest foreign policy upsets in living memory today, after MPs voted against the government motion on military intervention in Syria.

The vote, which was lost by 272 to 285, brings to a close any hope of Britain participating in any military action against the regime of president Bashar al-Assad but it also serves to dramatically weaken the prime minister in the eyes of parliament and his party.

Amid shouts of 'resign' in the Commons chamber, Cameron said: "The British parliament does not want to see military action. I get that and the government will act accordingly."

The only possible comparison of a party leader not being able to command the support of his own side in a matter of foreign policy is Neville Chamberlain in the Norway debate of 1940.

Back then, Labour called a vote which effectively functioned as a vote of confidence in his leadership. When a quarter of Chamberlain's MPs voted with the opposition he resigned and Winston Churchill became prime minister.

It is highly unlikely that today's vote would face Cameron from power, but it is a brutal humiliation for a prime minister who clearly overplayed his hand on the Syria crisis.

[melsec]

Thanks for the link!

[mmichaels1970]

Amid shouts of 'resign' in the Commons chamber, Cameron said: "The British parliament does not want to see military action. I get that and the government will act accordingly."

He did the right thing. He followed the right course of action and respected the decision made by the representatives of the people. He has nothing to be ashamed of here.