Nottingham East MP Chris Leslie has explained why he backed air strikes against IS in Syria.
The Labour MP left his decision until the day of the debate and vote last week, after canvassing constituents for their views.
In the letter sent to constituents via email he said: “After a passionate and thorough debate in the House of Commons, I came to the view that the threat from ISIL Daesh is such that the UK has to play its part in degrading their safe haven not just in Iraq but also in Syria.”
It would be morally wrong to refuse to act in self-defence
Mr Leslie was among a number of MPs who delayed a decision, when others made their views clear days ahead of the divisive debate.
The letter continues: “I have weighed up the many opinions expressed to me about the risks involved in targeting these jihadi assets as carefully as possible, but I must also consider the importance of weakening and reducing the power of Daesh.”
He describes in the letter how the UK is being faced by ‘fascists’ and compared standing up to Daesh as the same as standing up to Hitler and Mussolini.
A total of 397 MPs voted in favour of air strikes, and 223 opposed in a 10 hour long debate in the House of Commons last Wednesday.
Explaining why he voted in favour, Mr Leslie added: “They have killed British tourists, downed aeroplanes, bombed Turkey and the Lebanon and murdered 130 people in Paris. Knowing their plans and intentions, I feel it would be morally wrong and potentially dangerous to just step aside and refuse to act in self-defence.”
Four of Nottinghamshire’s eleven MPs voted against air strikes in Syria, six voted in favour and Ken Clarke, Conservative MP for Rushcliffe, abstained from voting.
