The Independent reports my reaction to US Secretary of State John Kerry’s intervention in the EU debate: Responding to Mr Kerry’s remarks at the Munich annual security conference the Conservative MP Steve Baker said to the Independent: “I refer Mr Kerry to the US Declaration of Independence. We will do […]
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Answers to the key questions on Syria
Online and in the comments on my last article, members of the public are raising legitimate questions which were, I think, answered in last night’s debate. To read the media, one would think we had voted for a general war: we did not. The motion, as I reported, was tightly […]
Read MoreWhy I am supporting the extension of military action against ISIL/Daesh to Syria
In a previous article, I said I would decide whether to support the Government in extending military action against ISIL/Daesh into Syria once I had seen the motion. The motion is here and it is as follows (layout and emphasis my own): That this House notes that ISIL poses a direct […]
Read MoreSyria: The Prime Minister’s response the Foreign Affairs Select Committee
Last night on Wycombe Sound, I promised to make available the Prime Minister’s response to the Foreign Affairs Committee’s inquiry on Syria. The inquiry produced the report The extension of offensive British military operations to Syria (PDF). It concluded: In the face of a humanitarian and security catastrophe, there is a powerful sense […]
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The attacks on Paris and potential action in Syria
The atrocity in Paris last weekend has horrified people across the globe. It is clear this barbaric attack has underlined all decent people’s rejection of terror and violence and reaffirmed their commitment to live in an open and free society. It has reinforced everyone’s intolerance of violence and extremism. The freedoms we […]
Read MoreWhy I will vote to recognise Palestine
On 21 July, I wrote of the conflict over Gaza: As we have recoiled from the violence committed by both sides, too little attention has been paid to the reality of Israeli settlements on the West Bank, their development over the years and their consequences for Palestinians. The progression of those […]
Read MoreOn declining to support action in Iraq
ISIL is a brutal tyranny founded on a narrow and perverted interpretation of Islam together with unyielding violent religious intolerance. Muslims in Wycombe have with one voice condemned ISIL. Resisting ISIL with lethal force is a just and essential cause. We have been asked to set aside the mistakes of […]
Read MoreGaza: the violence must stop
As the appalling toll of lives lost has mounted again today in Gaza, it is increasingly clear that it is practically impossible for the Israelis to conduct proportionate operations there. The UN Security Council has rightly called for an immediate ceasefire. The UN Secretary General has described Israel’s shelling of […]
Read MoreI deplore the violence by both sides in the Israel-Gaza conflict
Yesterday, the House of Commons heard a statement from William Hague on Gaza. Today, I met a party of pupils from Cressex School whose concern was obvious and who were keen to discuss the situation. Later in the week, I expect to meet a group of local people to discuss […]
Read MoreCommons Library brief on Ukraine
As the debate on Ukraine proceeds in the Commons, I’m once again delighted to discover so much expertise which was hitherto wasted. Having spoken to Ukrainians protesting outside Downing Street about 10 days ago, I’m grateful that the House of Commons Library has produced this briefing: Ukraine, Crimea and Russia (PDF, […]
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