No plans for second Syria vote, says Clegg

Mr Clegg said he “could not foresee any circumstances” in which the government would ask MPs to vote again, following their rejection of the PM’s proposal for military action last Thursday.

He added: “We’re not going to keep asking the same question of parliament again and again.

“We live in a democracy, the executive cannot act in a way which clearly is not welcome to parliament or the British people, so we’re not proposing to do so.”

Mr Clegg admitted that he and Mr Cameron remain “completely convinced it was Assad’s regime that used chemical weapons in that eastern suburb of Damascus the week before last.

“I personally think there’s a case for Britain, on humanitarian grounds, to participate in deterrent action to stop the further use of these abhorrent and illegal weapons. But parliament didn’t agree.”

And Mr Cameron’s official spokesman told a daily Westminster media briefing: “Parliament has spoken and that is why the government has absolutely no plans to go back to parliament.”

However Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said the facts surrounding the war in Syria would have to change “very significantly” before the government would consider a fresh vote.

Mr Hammond said: “I’ve said already we believe parliament has spoken clearly on this issue and is unlikely to want to revisit it unless the circumstances change very significantly.”

The defence secretary also said it was “a bit rich” for the opposition to start demanding a timetable for a new division of MPs when it was Labour strategy that led to a situation where the prime minister felt parliament had ruled out intervention.

Speaking at defence questions in the Commons, Mr Hammond said ministers had no intention of re-running last week’s debate in a bid to get a different result to the 13-vote Government defeat which shook Westminster following Thursday’s recall.

‘Parliament has spoken’

Despite assurances from the government, London mayor Boris Johnson said that fresh evidence about chemical weapons could lead to further debate.

The London mayor said British forces could still be deployed, insisting there was “no reason” why a renewed bid for parliamentary support could not still be made.

But the prime minister’s official spokesman said there were “absolutely no plans” to go back to parliament following last week’s defeat of a govenment motion on Syria.

Chancellor George Osborne said on Sunday that “parliament has spoken” and suggested that even if the facts changed Britain will not deploy military force.

US Secretary of State John Kerry revealed on Sunday that the United States had evidence of sarin gas use after testing samples of hair and blood and insisted he is confident that Congress will back military action when it is put to a vote next week.

In an article for the Daily Telegraph, the mayor of London said: “If there is new and better evidence that inculpates Assad, I see no reason why the government should not lay a new motion before parliament, inviting British participation”.

Sir Malcolm Rifkind, a former foreign secretary, added: “Parliament ought to have the opportunity to debate the matter again” if the evidence was agreed to be compelling.

Former Liberal Democrat leader Lord Ashdown also suggested parliament could “reconsider its position” following the moves announced by the United States to put action to a vote.

Meanwhile business secretary Vince Cable will face questions over a decision to allow the export of substances used to make chemical weapons to Syria.

In a letter to Mr Cable, a member of the House of Commons’ committee on arms export controls will demand to know who was allowed to sell the chemicals and what other licences for the export of dangerous materials to Syria have been granted.

Prime Minister David Cameron ruled out the use of British force on Thursday following a humiliating defeat in the Commons but the prospect of parliament revisiting the issue was raised following US president Barack Obama’s announcement that he is seeking congressional support for a punishment strike.

Arab states urge action

Meanwhile Arab states on Sunday urged the international community to take action against the Syrian government over a chemical gas attack that killed hundreds of civilians.

The final resolution passed by an Arab League meeting in Cairo urged the United Nations and international community to “take the deterrent and necessary measures against the culprits of this crime that the Syrian regime bears responsibility for”.

The league’s foreign ministers also said those responsible for the attack should face trial, as other “war criminals” have. Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal said condemnation of Syria over the poison gas attack, which US officials say killed 1,429 people, was not enough.

He said opposing international action on the grounds that it was “foreign intervention” was no longer acceptable.

“Any opposition to any international action would only encourage Damascus to move forward with committing its crimes and using all weapons of mass destruction,” said Faisal.

“The time has come to call on the world community to bear its responsibility and take the deterrent measure that puts a halt to the tragedy.”

Congress to vote on Syria strike

The United States had seemed to be gearing up for a strike against President Bashar al-Assad’s forces over a 21 August poison gas attack, but is now seeking congressional approval first.

Mr Obama’s decision to delay military action to seek congressional support could delay a strike by at least 10 days, if it comes at all.

The Arab League resolution promised to “present all forms of support” to help the Syrian people to defend themselves.

Syria’s neighbors Lebanon and Iraq, as well as Algeria, all declined to back the text, as they have done with similar resolutions in the past. Syria itself is suspended from the League.