Islington MPs Demand Parliamentary Safeguard on War

Tuesday 1st November 2005

Islington’s Labour MPs, Emily Thornberry and Jeremy Corbyn, have joined together to demand that Parliament be given the final say in decisions on going to war. They are both supporting a parliamentary motion which calls for a change in the law, so that Parliament would have to approve all deployments of British troops in conflict.

EDM (Early Day Motion) 85 had been supported by Robin Cook MP before his tragic death and is backed by 220 MPs.  The EDM points to the recommendation of Public Administration Select Committee, in its report of 4th March 2004, that the law be changed.

Emily Thornberry MP said:

‘At the moment, the Prime Minister can decide to go to war alone. Despite that, as Leader of the House of Commons, Robin Cook ensured that there was a vote in Parliament before the war on Iraq. Although Parliament made the wrong decision at least it was made collectively by MPs.  A decision on a matter as grave as declaring war should not be made by one person. I am therefore calling for a change in the law’.

Jeremy Corbyn MP said:

‘I wholeheartedly support a change in the law that is long overdue. Tony Blair should not be able to take the country to war simply because he feels like it’.

Editor’s Notes

Emily Thornberry is MP for Islington South and Finsbury. Jeremy Corbyn is MP for Islington North.

The full text of EDM 85 is here: http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=28273&SESSION=875

The report of 4th March 2004 by the Public Administration Select Committee can be found here: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200304/cmselect/cmpubadm/422/42211.htm#a21