House of Commons Syria debate - as it happened: Jeremy Corbyn secures emergency debate on UK military action

PM denies following Donald Trump's lead by launching air strikes

Syria air strikes: How events unfolded

Theresa May has faced MPs to defend her decision to launch air strikes against the Syrian government, but ducked calls to give parliament a retrospective vote on the matter.

Speaking in the House of Commons, the prime minister dismissed suggestions the government had followed the “whims” of Donald Trump and insisted she had taken the decision to launch strikes because it was in the UK's national interest.

But she faced criticism from MPs, including some on her own benches, for not seeking a vote of parliament before launching the strikes.

Instead, the Commons is likely to vote on the issue on Tuesday after Jeremy Corbyn was granted permission for a debate on intervention in Syria.

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Key Points

• MPs should not vote on strikes as they can't be given sensitive intelligence, cabinet minister says
• US plans sanctions on Russian companies 'dealing with equipment related to Assad and chemical weapons'
• Watchdog has logged 390 allegations of banned chemical use in Syria since 2014
• Britain should brace for retaliation by Russia, Boris Johnson says

[16 April 2018 16:58 · Ashley Cowburn]

The SNP's Westminster leader Ian Blackford asks the Prime Minister why Parliament was not recalled when she summoned her emergency Cabinet last week. 

He says he's glad Corbyn is supporting the SNPs call for a War Powers Act. He says there's no long-term strategic plan. 

[16 April 2018 17:13 · Ashley Cowburn]

Labour's former shadow foreign secretary hits out the PM for not consulting Parliament before striking the Syrian regime.

Here's a clip of the Tory MP Ken Clarke making a similar point earlier:

[16 April 2018 17:25 · Ashley Cowburn]

Liz Kendal is the first Labour MP that has broke with the Labour frontbench, saying that Assad's use of chemical weapons cannot go unanswered. 

Labour MP Chris Leslie also criticised those who "turn a blind eye" and favour inaction - a thinly veiled criticism of his party leader.

He said: "Pinpointing and degrading Assad's chemical weapons was necessary and appropriate, and that intervening to save civilians from future gas attacks - while not without risk - was absolutely the right thing to do.

"Would the Prime Minister also agree that a policy of inaction also would have severe consequences, and that those who would turn a blind eye, who would do nothing in pursuit of some moral high ground should also be held accountable - for once - today as well?"

Mrs May replied: "I agree with him. Many people focus on the impact of action but actually inaction would have given a message that these chemical weapons could continue to be used by the Syrian regime and indeed by others with impunity and we cannot allow that to happen."

Ben Bradshaw, another Labour MP, says Assad and his regime have "lied, and lied again". But he also urges her to come to Parliament and seek consent for military intervention in future instances. 

[16 April 2018 17:28 · Ashley Cowburn]

[16 April 2018 17:46 · Ashley Cowburn]

Tory former attorney general Dominic Grieve said: "If the leader of the opposition persists on behalf of the Labour Party in changing its previous adherence to the previous rule of international law justifying taking unilateral action in the event of there being a humanitarian necessity, does (Mrs May) agree with me that the consequence of that is going to be that any tyrant, megalomaniac, person intent on carrying out genocide, if they have the support of an amoral state within the Security Council would be able to conduct that genocide with total impunity even if it was within our power to act to prevent it?

"And does she agree with me that in those circumstances, far from upholding the international rules-based system, the reality is that it would be dead?"

[16 April 2018 18:10 · Kristin Hugo]

Labour backbencher Chris Bryant says "the most pernicious role in Syria has been played by Russia: they have systematically refused to allow people to investigate where war crimes have been committed, they've advanced their own territorial ambitions, and we must make sure that they pay the price in the end".

Theresa May says he is "absolutely right", adding that Russia has been "unwilling" to help negotiate a political and diplomatic settlement in Syria and has "supported a regime which has illegally used chemical weapons to kill and to injure its own civilians, including young children".

[16 April 2018 18:20 · Kristin Hugo]

Labour's Jess Phillips urges MPs to "have better faith in each other", saying: "This is not an opportunity for politics about the local elections - this is about children being gassed.

"On both sides I have heard ridiculous politicking and bad faith," she adds.

She says Theresa May should have given MPs a vote before launching strikes, but says she would have voted in support of military action.

[16 April 2018 18:32 · Kristin Hugo]

Theresa May has now been taking questions from MPs for over two hours. Most have expressed support for her actions, although some on both sides of the House  said the prime minister should have consulted Parliament first. A small number of SNP and Labour MPs have also criticised the action, asking how it will help end the conflict in Syria.

When questions end, there will be a debate on the UK's actions in Syria. Theresa May is expected to wrap up on behalf of the government.

[16 April 2018 18:44 · Kristin Hugo]

A slightly strange intervention from Tory MP Steve Double, who calls himself a "humble backbencher" and thanks Theresa May "for not putting the responsibility on me for making this decision without having the full information and intelligence that was available to her".

[16 April 2018 19:14 · Kristin Hugo]