Military Action Overseas: Parliamentary Approval Debate

Full Debate: Read Full Debate
Department: Cabinet Office

Military Action Overseas: Parliamentary Approval

Vicky Ford Excerpts
Tuesday 17th April 2018

(6 years, 8 months ago)

Commons Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Jeremy Corbyn Portrait Jeremy Corbyn
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

I am not giving way for the moment.

Enshrining the right of elected MPs to decide on matters of peace and war is an essential, vital development of hundreds of years of democratic development and parliamentary accountability. In effect, 17 countries have the rights of their Parliament to approve military action enshrined in their own laws. It should escape no one that the general public want to see an increased role for Parliament in the decision-making process around planned military action.

Vicky Ford Portrait Vicky Ford (Chelmsford) (Con)
- Hansard - -

Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that it is the role of the Government to put our citizens’ safety first, and that the Government therefore have to have the power to act in the national interest for security, and to act swiftly and confidentially, taking into account the safety of our servicemen and our allies’ servicemen?

Jeremy Corbyn Portrait Jeremy Corbyn
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

It is perfectly clear from what I am proposing that Parliament should have the right to hold Government to account, and that Government should seek prior parliamentary approval before they undertake major military actions. The hon. Lady might not agree with me, but that is the joy of a parliamentary democracy. [Interruption.]