Syria crisis: Cameron loses Commons vote on Syria action

United Kingdom Prime Minister David Cameron definitively ruled out British involvement in any military action against Syria after the government lost a crucial vote in the House of Commons on the 29 August 2013. The vote had been designed to help pave the way for a possible intervention with the US and other forces against the regime of President Assad in response to an alleged chemical weapons attack by the Syrian regime against its own people.

The move was seen as a major blow to the authority of David Cameron and of significance for relations between the UK and the United States and for future UK foreign policy.

French President Francois Hollande said he was still ready to join the US in strikes on Syria after the British vote.

For its part, Germany confirmed on the 30 August 2013 that it would not commit any forces to a Syria attack.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: EU urges ‘immediate’ probe on Syria chemical attack http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-urges-immediate-probe-on-syria-chemical-attack/

UK: House of Commons: Library: Standard Notes: SNIA 6714 (27.08.13): Intervention in Syria http://www.parliament.uk/briefing-papers/SN06714/intervention-in-syria

The Guardian, 30.08.13: Blow to Cameron's authority as MPs rule out British assault on Syria http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/aug/30/cameron-mps-syria

Daily Telegraph, 30.08.13: Syria crisis: No to war, blow to Cameron http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/10275158/Syria-crisis-No-to-war-blow-to-Cameron.html

France24, 30.08.13: British parliament rejects military action in Syria http://www.france24.com/en/20130830-british-parliament-rejects-military-action-syria-cameron-assad

Euronews, 30.08.13: Syria crisis: UK says no to military strikes http://www.euronews.com/2013/08/30/syria-crisis-uk-says-no-to-military-strikes/

EUObserver, 30.08.13: British MPs halt prospect of joint US strike on Syria http://euobserver.com/foreign/121258

EurActiv, 30.08.13: Britain rejects Syria intervention, US considers solo 'discrete' attack http://www.euractiv.com/global-europe/britain-rejects-syria-interventi-news-530035

UK: Prime Minister's Office: Guidance, 29.08.13: Chemical weapon use by Syrian regime: UK government legal position https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/chemical-weapon-use-by-syrian-regime-uk-government-legal-position

UK: FCO: News, 29.08.13: Syria chemical weapons attack https://www.gov.uk/government/news/syria-chemical-weapons-attack

Social Europe Journal, 30.08.13: England Says No To Washington http://www.social-europe.eu/2013/08/england-says-no-to-washington/

Deutsche Welle, 30.08.13: 'This is why we have a parliament' http://dw.de/p/19Yzl

France24, 30.08.13: France stands firm on Syria despite shock UK vote http://www.france24.com/en/20130830-france-hollande-syria-usa-uk-vote-francois

The Times / Le Monde, 30.08.13: UK vote weakens case for military action / François Hollande: France ‘is ready’ to punish Damascus regime (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/article/4100041-uk-vote-weakens-case-military-action

Spiegel Online International, 30.08.13: War Weary Europe: The US Loses an Ally http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/british-syria-vote-an-omen-for-difficult-diplomatic-future-in-europe-a-919576.html

EUObserver, 30.08.13: France 'ready' to strike Syria despite British No vote http://euobserver.com/foreign/121265

Deutsche Welle, 01.09.13: Syria state media calls Obama Congress request a 'retreat' http://dw.de/p/19Zkq

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