Government wins first Commons vote on Syria

The government has won the first of two expected retrospective votes on Theresa May decision to join French and American allies in targeted military strikes in Syria, she did so without seeking Parliamentary approval. MPs debated Alison McGoverns emergency debate late into the evening – with the SNP calling a vote on the motion that the House has ‘considered the current situation in Syria and the UK government approach’. Labour – minus Dennis Skinner – abstained and the government won at 314 ayes to 26 noes

It now looks as though a more testing vote looms. Jeremy Corbyn has won approval for an emergency debate on a motion reaffirming the convention that Parliament should have to approve military interventions. The government now faces a decision on whether to abstain from any vote, support the motion or vote against. Any vote is non-binding – but a defeat would be symbolically damaging to May’s authority.