Syria: MPs Hold Debate As PM Drops Vote

By Jon Craig, Chief Political Correspondent

David Cameron has ducked a Commons confrontation with opponents of military action against Syria today by dropping plans for a Commons vote on backing British involvement.

Bowing to pressure from Labour and rebel Tory MPs after recalling Parliament, the Prime Minister has instead promised MPs a second Commons vote before Britain supports military action.

The retreat came after warnings by Government business managers that the Prime Minister simply didn't have the numbers to defeat opponents of military action in tonight's vote at 10pm.

It also comes as Barack Obama directly blamed the Syrian government for a chemical attack in Damascus, saying a strike would teach the regime "that it better not do it again".

In another significant development, China entered the discussion warning the West against any military action.  

"China calls on all parties to exercise restraint and remain calm and to remain committed to the correct track of political solutions," Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said.

After a meeting of the Cabinet in Downing Street this morning, Mr Cameron will make his case for military intervention in Syria at the outset of of an eight-hour debate in the Commons.

Legal advice on taking military action in Syria will be published later this morning, Downing Street indicated.

Mr Cameron recalled Parliament earlier this week following an international outcry over the use of chemical weapons in an attack on Syrian civilians on the outskirts of Damascus last week.

The recall came after the Prime Minister was forced to promise MPs not just a debate but also a vote ahead of any British involvement in attacks on President's Assad's regime.

Police guard the entrance to Downing Street during a rally against action

But today he will face accusations of a U-turn, after a climbdown which appeared to be prompted by a Labour threat to vote against the Government.

Labour published an amendment rejecting backing for military action until UN weapons inspectors have reported and said its MPs would oppose the Government motion if its amendment was defeated.

The Government's motion, published an hour after Labour's amendment, calls for efforts to secure a United Nations Security Council resolution and more time for UN weapons inspectors, both demanded by Labour, before military intervention.

But then the motion says: "Before any direct British involvement in such action, a further vote of the House of Commons will take place."

UN weapons inspectors are continuing to collect and analyse evidence

Defending the Government climbdown, Foreign Secretary William Hague accepted that the Government had made "an effort to accommodate the concerns and questions of other parties" in its motion.

He said the motion "reflects the deep concerns in this country about what happened in Iraq" and stressed the Government's desire for a "consensual" approach.

"We are determined to take action against war crimes, against crimes against humanity and that is what the use of chemical weapons constitutes, but that we will also proceed as far as possible on a consensual basis," he said.

"That is why we have been talking to the Opposition in this country, as well as of course within the coalition, over the last couple of days.

"This motion that we are putting to the House of Commons tomorrow endorses the Government's consistent approach that we must be prepared to take action against the use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime, to deter the future use of chemical weapons.

"But it also reflects the desire to proceed on a consensual basis, if possible without votes that are on narrow majorities or on party lines, but to ensure that there is widespread support across the House of Commons and of course respect for the United Nations processes as well."

Mr Hague said he hoped Parliament can "express its strong support for maintaining the prohibition on chemical weapons in the world but be prepared to take action on the basis of the maximum consent that can be achieved".

David Cameron has been forced to retreat

Asked if the Government had backed down in the face of Labour's opposition he said: "It's important to proceed on a consensual basis. This is a democratic country, this is a democratic Parliament and people throughout the world understand that.

"We are trying to take decisions on these matters in a way in which everybody's opinions are taken fully into account."

He added: "We are making every possible effort to make sure the British Parliament can unite.

"So have we made an effort here to accommodate the concerns and questions of other parties? Yes, we have. But I think we should regard that as something positive in such a difficult situation."

A senior No 10 source said: "This is obviously a fluid and fast-moving situation. The Prime Minister has been trying to be consensual all along. This motion is designed to be consensual.

"This country is bruised by what happened over Iraq. We want to be clear about what we think needs to be done but it needs to be done on a consensual basis."

But Tory Andrew Bridgen, MP for North West Leicestershire, said: "Across the House there is a great concern about our further involvement in this crisis."

He added that "a watered-down motion is better than a defeat for the Government" and added that he had supported the Labour stance that "we should have evidence before we have action".

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