MPs call for vote on Iraq deployment
A group of 45 Labour MPs are calling on the Government to grant a Commons vote before it deploys British troops into an American controlled area of Iraq.
The call comes in response to the confirmation from Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon that the Americans have asked for a number of UK troops to be deployed nearer Baghdad in order to release US troops for an assault on rebel positions.
Mr Hoon strongly denied that the potential deployment was connected to the upcoming US presidential elections, saying that the only connection was with the January Iraqi elections.
Mr Hoon though caused some political controversy when, under questioning from Liberal Democrat MP Jenny Tongue about what penalties the UK would suffer if they refused the request, he said: “There will be no penalty, but we will have failed in our duty as an ally and as a country that has closely supported the United States.”
Some MPs took that as a signal that the request has effectively already been approved, and voiced their disquiet that UK troops might get bogged down in another sphere of operations, under American control.
Following the statement, 45 MPs have signed an Early Day Motion saying they believe: “Such a move would significantly increase the danger to British troops in Iraq; and therefore calls for a vote in the House before Her Majesty’s Government takes a final decision on this matter.”
The Government is unlikely to view the request sympathetically as it has repeatedly insisted that the decision to deploy troops will be taken on military, not political, grounds.
The full list of signatures so far is: Alice Mahon, Mr Michael Clapham, John Cryer, David Taylor, Ms Diane Abbott, John McDonnell, Mr Brian Sedgemore, Mr Kelvin Hopkins, Mr Ken Purchase, Alan Simpson, Mr Frank Dobson, Mr Gordon Prentice, Geraldine Smith, Mr Neil Gerrard, Mr Michael Connarty, Mr Doug Henderson, Mr Ronnie Campbell, Jeremy Corbyn, Glenda Jackson, Mr Robert N. Wareing, Jim Dobbin, Dr Desmond Turner, Adam Price, Llew Smith, Mr Harry Barnes, Colin Burgon, Mr Mark Fisher, Mr Terry Lewis, Mr Peter Kilfoyle, Mr Tony Lloyd, Andrew Mackinlay, Dr Ian Gibson, Mr David Chaytor, Mr Kerry Pollard, Kate Hoey, Mrs Helen Clark, Chris McCafferty, Mr Tam Dalyell, Lynne Jones, Mr Malcolm Savidge, Mr Marsha Singh, Harry Cohen, Mr Martin Caton, Mr Mohammad Sarwar and Mr Robert Marshall-Andrews.
