John Leech has backed the House of Commons vote in favour of air strikes against Isis targets – even though he and the Liberal Democrats stood against the 2003 Iraq war.
The Withington MP spoke exclusively to MM about the vote, which resulted in favour of air strikes against the Islamic State in Iraq by a result of 524 to 43 with all major parties in favour of military action.
The air strikes will be carried out by the RAF, who already have bombers primed on Cyprus, and they could be called into action to begin their campaign as early as next week.
The RAF will join the United States and air forces of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in anti-Isis action.
Mr Leech, who was not able to vote today, said: “If I was able to make it back to the Commons I would have voted with the Government and the Labour Party frontbench in favour of this action.”
The House of Commons voted in favour of air strikes against Isis, the radical group responsible for the capture of Salford aid worker Alan Henning, who is threatened with execution.
Jihadists had previously beheaded American journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff as well as Brit David Haines.
“I and the Liberal Democrats proudly opposed the illegal war in Iraq, but I support this action for three reasons,” he said.
“Firstly, this action is legal and proportionate. We have been asked for help by the legitimate Iraqi government and action will follow a vote in Parliament.
“UK combat troops in Iraq, which I oppose, have been ruled out, as have air strikes in Syria without a further Commons vote.
“Secondly, I believe the threat of Isis to Britain and its citizens is clear and visible – they have taken British hostages and executed them in a callous and barbaric way.
“Finally, we are acting within a very broad coalition including many Arab countries. This is not the west unilaterally telling the Middle East what to do.”
In a poll taken by MM earlier this week, 90% believed that this conflict should remain a US-only affair.
The vote came on the back of news that French tourist Herve Gourdel had been executed in Algeria after being held hostage and that Isis was targeting Paris’ Metro and New York City’s Subway systems for attacks.
Image courtesy of Interpreting National Network via YouTube with thanks
