Iraq: Coalition Against ISIL Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Iraq: Coalition Against ISIL

Richard Drax Excerpts
Friday 26th September 2014

(9 years, 7 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Richard Drax Portrait Richard Drax (South Dorset) (Con)
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Thank you, Mr Speaker. I have two small points to make in one minute.

First, I pay tribute to our armed forces. It looks as though, tonight, they will once again be put on the front line and in harm’s way. The few, who have become fewer, will once again be flying over enemy skies. Our thoughts will be with them and their families and if, God forbid, they are shot down, with those who have to go and pick them up off the sand—it is not just the pilots who will be involved.

Secondly, there is no doubt that ISIL is a risk to the stability of the middle east. It is therefore certainly a risk to the future of world stability, which affects us and our future security. In my view, there is no doubt that we should get involved. We cannot wash our hands of the situation and walk away on this occasion. I will support the motion, and I am personally grateful to the Prime Minister for calling us back here to debate a subject that is really more important to us than any other—taking our country once more, regrettably, to war.