Syria IS bombing: How Nottinghamshire MPs voted

Dec 3, 2015

westminster, politics, houses of parliament

Nottinghamshire MPs were divided last night on whether Great Britain should join US-led air strikes against the Islamic State in Syria.

Ten hours of debate in the House of Commons led to a decision just after 10pm, with 397 MPs voting in favour of the air strikes compared to 223 opposing them.

Prime Minister David Cameron has already ordered RAF action along with Russian, French and American forces.

Some Nottinghamshire MPs had declared how they would vote before the debate, whereas others left it until the final moment before making their intentions clear.

Here’s how Nottinghamshire’s MPs voted:

Graham Allen (Labour), Nottingham North: Against

Chris Leslie (Labour), Nottingham East: For

Lillian Greenwood (Labour), Nottingham South: Against

Anna Soubry (Conservative) Broxtowe: For

Gloria DePiero (Labour), Ashfield: For

John Mann (Labour), Bassetlaw: Against

Vernon Coaker (Labour), Gedling: For

Alan Meale (Labour), Mansfield: Against

Robert Jenrick (Conservative), Newark: For

Mark Spencer (Conservative), Sherwood: For

Ken Clarke, Conservative MP for Rushcliffe, abstained from voting

Mark Spencer told Notts TV why he decided that air strikes was the best course of action to take against Syria:

Audio: Mark Spencer explains his vote

Supporters of the action say it will help make Britain safer after IS terrorists killed more than 100 people in gun and bomb attacks in Paris last month.

But opponents including Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said civilians in Syria will be put at risk and the overall strategy for defeating IS remains unclear.

Last night, a protest against the action took place in Old Market Square with more than 400 people gathering by the Brian Clough statue.

Nottingham Stop the War’s chair Tom Unterrainer said: “Bombing Syria will make no difference to the ability of ISIS to strike in Syria, Europe or the USA.

“ISIS was created in the chaos of the Iraq War and we have to acknowledge that. The people who will suffer most are the civilians of Raqqa who are used as human shields by ISIS.

“Only a political settlement will end the violence in Syria. Only an end to Western intervention will allow the Middle East to heal,” Mr Unterrainer added.