Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Hammond of Runnymede and Ian Paisley

Monday 2nd September 2013 Commons Chamber

[Ian Paisley (North Antrim) (DUP)]

Have the Government taken the opportunity to thank the Americans for so thoroughly dumping on their oldest ally, the French, in favour of the long grass of the Congress when it comes to Syria?

[Mr Philip Hammond]

I think we have to be clear in these matters. The British Government can speak for what Britain will or will not do; other allies have to make their own decisions, and just as we have asked them to respect our political processes and constitutional norms, so we have to respect theirs as well.