City MP warns May over air strikes with Trump on Syria
THERESA MAY has been warned by a Glasgow MP over launching air strikes on Syria.
Stewart McDonald, Glasgow South SNP MP, the party’s defence spokesman, said that previous strikes had not prevented the chemical attack which he condemned.
The MP said that the UK should back moves to restrict the Syrian Government’s ability to buy weapons and impose sanctions on any companies found to be involved.
Mr McDonald wrote to the Prime Minister as she and her advisors consider what action Britain should take following the chemical attack in Syria which killed and injured adults and children.
Ms May has convened a ‘war cabinet’ at the US, UK and France consider action while Russia, Syria’s most powerful ally has warned against action which could escalate the conflict.
He said: “The suspected chemical weapons attacks in Syria must be condemned in the strongest terms, and action must be taken to ensure such attacks never happen again.”
As the world waits on the response of the west particularly the US, following President Donald Trump warning Russia via twitter air strikes were coming, Mr McDonald urged caution from the UK Government.
He said: “At this stage, I understand you are giving consideration to joining a possible US and French mission to target the Assad regime.
“President Trump has made it clear that he does wish to use military force in this way, and I would urge extreme caution on the UK government’s part in considering its response.”
He said chemical weapons can’t become normalised but urged the Prime Minister to take other actions that do not involve “lethal force” and not deepen the UK’s involvement in the Syrian war, which he said was “extremely complex”.
He added: “I am not convinced that the retaliatory airstrikes being proposed by the United States is a proper way forward.”
Mr McDonald said that MPs must be given a say to debate and vote on any escalation of the UK military involvement
He said: “While the need for action is clear – that action must be properly considered.
“Air strikes have not prevented these attacks and will not provide the long term solutions needed to end the war. Any proposed change to the role of UK forces in Syria must be subject to full scrutiny and a vote in Parliament.”