Then there is the 3 hour session in parliament on Thursday where the PM took 103 questions from across the house.
1. What does the unanimous resolution 2249 of the UN say? I would urge constituents to read this as a starter: http://www.un.org/press/en/2015/sc12132.doc.htm
The key paragraph is:
“5. The UN Calls upon Member States that have the capacity to do so to take all necessary measures, in compliance with international law, in particular with the United Nations Charter, as well as international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law, on the territory under the control of ISIL also known as Da’esh, in Syria and Iraq, to redouble and coordinate their efforts to prevent and suppress terrorist acts committed specifically by ISIL also known as Da’esh as well as ANF, and all other individuals, groups, undertakings, and entities associated with Al-Qaida, and other terrorist groups, as designated by the United Nations Security Council, and as may further be agreed by the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) and endorsed by the UN Security Council, pursuant to the statement of the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) of 14 November, and to eradicate the safe haven they have established over significant parts of Iraq and Syria;"
2. The cross party foreign affairs select committee sought detailed answers to a number of questions. The full response of the government is here:
http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons-committees/foreign-affairs/PM-Response-to-FAC-Report-Extension-of-Offensive-British-Military-Operations-to-Syria.pdf
In the response the PM addresses the key questions which are:
Why?
Why us?
Why now?
Is what we are contemplating legal?
Where are the ground troops to help us meet our objectives?
What is the strategy that brings together everything that we are doing, particularly in Syria?
Is there an end to this conflict and is there a plan for what follows?
3. The PM provided a statement to the House of Commons and answered 103 questions from members of Parliamanetary from all parts of the House. This can be found here: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201516/cmhansrd/cm151126/debtext/151126-0001.htm#15112625000002
As always we will await the motion itself that Parliament is asked to support but I believe we have the UN backed legal mandate, that we have a clear roadmap from a diplomatic point of view, and that the very very detailed response to the Foreign Affairs Select Committee provides answer to the key issues that we all need to have addressed. I shall be supporting the Prime Minister.
