Diane Abbott says pro-intervention MPs should pressure Cameron to get UN mandate on Syria

Shadow International Development Secretary Diane Abbott has criticised the prospect of Labour MPs voting for military action in the Middle East, saying that “British military intervention in Syria will solve nothing”. In a piece for The Guardian published online today, she also attacks the the framing of intervention as “wrapped up as part of a humanitarian effort”.

“It is entirely disingenuous to argue for military action alongside a diplomatic and humanitarian action, as if they are inextricably linked”, she writes. “Nobody knows whether the proposed ‘safe havens’ would actually work. Notably they did not prevent thousands of Bosnian Muslims being slaughtered in Srebrenica.”

There will be an adjournment debate in the Commons tonight about the protection of civilians in Syria – and backbencher Jo Cox wrote for LabourList this morning outlining her argument.

The Government are likely to bring a proposal for military intervention in Syria to a Commons vote in the coming weeks, and while Jeremy Corbyn will probably oppose any measures, yesterday’s Observer reported that up to 50 Labour MPs could support action.

Abbott is another prominent frontbencher who will oppose intervention, and today called on those who will support it to at the very least push for a UN mandate. However, a mandate is unlikely to be obtained as Russia are expected to oppose moves that seek to sanction President Assad as well as ISIS.

Abbott wrote:

“If some MPs are intent on military action, surely their first step should be to pressure Cameron to obtain some kind of UN resolution? If he tries and fails that is one thing. But it is surprising that so many MPs, of whatever party, are happy to contemplate a further British military adventure without even an attempt to obtain such a mandate. Last month Labour Party conference debated and agreed to the terms on which it would support UK military action in Syria. Those terms included authorisation from the United Nations. Cameron has yet to make a military case for bombing. MPs of all parties will be well advised to hear what he actually has to say before committing themselves to yet another ill-fated military intervention in the Middle East.”