MPs demand clear answers on Commons war powers
By Ian Dunt
MPs are calling for clear answers about parliament’s war powers, after questions were raised following the Libya mission.
The foreign secretary has committed himself to enshrining parliament’s role authorising war in law, but fighting began in Libya several days before MPs were able to vote on it.
“Iraq and more recently Libya have shown us that we need a clear statement of parliament’s role in decisions to go to war, and we need one soon,” Graham Allen, chair of the political and constitutional reform committee, said.
“The government has said that parliament has a role, but there isn’t an agreed position on what this role is, certainly not one that parliament has ever agreed to.
“What we need now is a proposal from the government that parliament can debate before the end of the calendar year.”
The committee demanded a draft parliamentary resolution for consultation before the end of 2011.
“Much work in this direction has already been completed, and the process for decision should be relatively swift,” it added.
It also raised concerns about the “feasibility” of a statutory solution for enshrining parliament’s war powers in law.
