Why don't you just SAY it? Diane Abbott refuses to answer same question FIVE TIMES
DIANE ABBOTT, the Shadow Home Secretary refused to cite a single situation in which she would support British military intervention in Syria in a car-crash interview, saying there is “no evidence” that bombing would end the violence in the region.
Abbott fails to answer Robinson’s question about Syria FIVE times
Diane Abbott, the Labour MP and Shadow Home Secretary, was being grilled on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme about Labour’s stance on military intervention in Syria.
After insisting that Prime Minister Theresa May should wait for an independent UN investigation before sanctioning a bombing campaign against the Assad regime, host Nick Robinson suggested that Labour was ideologically opposed to military action in any circumstance.
He said: “Aren’t you hinting at your real position, which is that its appalling what’s happened, you’re repulsed, but that you don't believe in military intervention in any circumstances at all. You believe its wrong. Why don’t you say so?”
Mrs Abbott simply replied: “There’s no evidence to show that further bombing in Syria will make the region any more stable.”
You don't believe in military intervention in any circumstances at all. You believe its wrong. Why don’t you say so?
Mr Robinson repeated his question a further four times, before concluding: “The answer’s no then, isn’t it?”
Mrs Abbott insisted: “No, that’s not what I’m saying. We don’t believe that further bombing in this situation will bring an end to the violence.”
Her position was immediately attacked by Conservative MP Chris Philp, who said: “I don’t agree with the things Diane Abbott has been saying today. I don’t agree with her insistence on a UN Sanctioned investigation because the Russians would simply veto it as they have done six times in the recent past.
“I don’t agree with Diane Abbott’s contention that the only circumstances that she can think of where military force is justified is the Second World War.
“I do think there is a strong case on humanitarian grounds to protect women and children in Syria from being an attack from chemical weapons."
Mrs Abbott’s comments followed Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn’s statement on Friday in which he repeated his call for parliament to be consulted before the UK involves itself in any military campaign.
He said: “Surely the lessons of Iraq, the lessons that came from the Chilcot report, are that there has to be a proper process of consultation. Cabinet on its own should not be making this decision.”
Corbyn on Syria: More bombing will not save life
Prime Minister Theresa May now believes she has the political support to take military action against Syria without a Parliamentary vote.
At an emergency two-and-a-half-hour meeting of the Cabinet, following a briefing from national security adviser Mark Sedwill, the PM won unanimous backing to “take action to alleviate humanitarian distress and to deter the further use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime,” according to a briefing from No. 10 last night.
The alleged poison gas attack struck the Syrian city of Douma on Saturday, killing as many as 75 people and leaving around 500 in need of medical attention.
US President Donald Trump and French leader Emmanuel Macron have both signalled their intention to take military action against the Assad regime, which they blame for the atrocity.