David Cameron has publicly ruled out the prospect of British military action in Syria following days of speculation that MPs could be allowed to reconsider the case for intervention because of events in America.
The Prime Minister said that the UK “can’t be part and won’t be part” of any
military strikes against Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
Mr Cameron has come under pressure from senior Conservative to hold a second
vote in the Commons on the issue after Barack Obama, the US President,
delayed his response in Syria.
A number of ministers including Philip Hammond, the Defence Secretary, this
week appeared to leave the door open to a second vote if the circumstances
in Syria “change very significantly”.
Downing Street had for days only said that there were "absolutely no plans"
to return to the Commons for another vote on Syria.
However, speaking during Prime Minister’s Questions, Mr Cameron excluded the
possibility of Britain having any role in military action.
“I accept that Britain can't be part, and won't be part, of any military
action on that front but we must not in any degree give up our utter
revulsion at the chemical weapons attacks that we have seen and we must
press this point in every forum that we are a member," Mr Cameron said.
He added: “I won't be bringing back plans for British participation in military action.”
The Prime Minister warned that the rest of the world is letting down the people of Syria.
He said the Government would continue to exercise its "diplomatic muscle" to press for a peaceful resolution to the conflict but warned that Assad must be put under real pressure from the international community.
His comments came as Sir Peter Tapsell, the Conservative MP for Louth and Horncastle, warned of the possibility of “Armageddon” if the American “illegally bombard the Assad forces”.
Mr Cameron replied: "The first point I would make is that we would never support illegal action. We debated and discussed this at some length last week and it is not the case the only way action can be legal is a UN resolution.
"We would only support action that would be legal, we would only support action that was proportionate.
He added: “I won't be bringing back plans for British participation in military action.”
The Prime Minister warned that the rest of the world is letting down the people of Syria.
He said the Government would continue to exercise its "diplomatic muscle" to press for a peaceful resolution to the conflict but warned that Assad must be put under real pressure from the international community.
His comments came as Sir Peter Tapsell, the Conservative MP for Louth and Horncastle, warned of the possibility of “Armageddon” if the American “illegally bombard the Assad forces”.
Mr Cameron replied: "The first point I would make is that we would never support illegal action. We debated and discussed this at some length last week and it is not the case the only way action can be legal is a UN resolution.
"We would only support action that would be legal, we would only support action that was proportionate.
