Free vote led to bombing
For the record – in Sheffield Nick Clegg and Angela Smith voted for bombing while Clive Betts, Harry Harpham, Louise Haigh and Paul Blomfield voted against.
Other high-profile South Yorkshire MPs among the 66 from Labour who voted for bombing were Dan Jarvis, Michael Dugher, Kevin Barron and Caroline Flint. Ed Miliband voted against.
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Hide AdGreen MP Caroline Lucas MP said: “I have still to see any evidence to suggest that UK bombing Isis targets in Syria is likely to increase our security here in Britain or help bring about a lasting peace in the region.”
She voted against, urging the Government “to wage peace rather than war by pursuing non-military means of bringing about an end to this most intransigent of conflicts.”
Increasing public unease about UK involvement in bombing is based on a strong belief that lessons should be learned from the aftermath of “shock and awe” in Iraq.
David Cameron’s disgraceful branding of those opposing bombing as “terrorist sympathisers” could have galvanised opposition. The House of Commons vote could have been very close with some Tory MPs rebelling. But, with Labour in disarray, it simply never happened.
Rob Cole
Nether Edge and Sharrow Green Party