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Iraq: why this isn’t 2003 all over again
The legality of any future British air strikes on Iraq may be clear – but the justification for US intervention in neighbouring Syria is much less obvious.
Tom Blundell from the Royal British Legion, speaking from Wootton Bassett, says “boots on the ground” are needed. Latif al-Habib, from Swindons Islamic Centre, says should we stick to air strikes.
The Commons votes to join air strikes in Iraq against the Islamic State group. Is the UK now locked on course for conflict in Syria, too, and backlash on British streets?
The legality of any future British air strikes on Iraq may be clear – but the justification for US intervention in neighbouring Syria is much less obvious.
President Obama arrives at the UN to deliver nothing less than a call to war against extremism. Exhorting nations to join the United States in its campaign against the jihadists of the Islamic State.
Seeking parliamentary approval before military action has brought in a new era that inhibits prime ministers in a way that would be unthinkable to their predecessors.
The idea behind Ed Miliband’s speech was to make the forthcoming election a battle of the plans, and its central message was solidarity – or “the spirit of together”.
Parliament could be recalled as soon as Friday for a vote on military action against Isil in their Iraqi and Syrian bases. The government is increasingly confident it has Labour on board.
Achieving a unified approach in dealing with the threat from Islamic State is one of several challenges facing the US at the United Nations General Assembly this week.
David Cameron is overheard saying the Queen “purred down the line” when he gave the result of the Scottish referendum. “I’ve never heard someone so happy,” he said.
Does the name Jean Chrétien sound familiar? Perhaps it should. It certainly is to the Westminster politicians who sought his advice as they fought to keep Scotland a part of the union.
The political fight over Scottish devolution is raging, and the Tories seem unwilling to move unless the question of English governance is answered.
The Conservative party now firmly believes Scots MPs should not vote on English laws – which could make it much harder for Labour to form a future government.
David Cameron risks jeopardising a Scottish devolution project which he promised as recently as last week in a desperate bid to turn round a referendum here that was slipping away from him.
Alex Salmond and Nigel Farage have seized the chance. Both are charismatic, cheeky-chappy personalities and outsider politicians who’ve brilliantly exploited public disgust with old politics.
David Cameron in a statement at No. 10 promised to honour the pledges made to the Scottish people at the last moment in the referendum campaign. But he also said the millions in England must now be heard.