Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Syrian sources: The Israeli occupation has begun withdrawing from the areas it infiltrated last night in the Quneitra countryside.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Massive bombings in eastern Gaza, the second within half an hour, and its sound was heard from central area.
Russian air defense units destroyed a drone that was heading toward Moscow.
Maduro: Tomorrow, a business meeting will be held bringing together hundreds of entrepreneurs from advanced Russian industries with hundreds of Venezuelan businesspeople.
Maduro: In the face of threats, Trinidad and Tobago agreed to suspend all effects of the energy agreement and everything that had been agreed upon in that regard.
Maduro: It’s time to make a choice, either stand with the warmongers who want death and violence, or stand with life.
Maduro: They want our wealth. This is not about drug trafficking, and they know it.
Maduro: Everyone in the world knows that what the economic elite ruling the United States seeks today is Venezuela’s oil, gas, and gold.
Maduro: The Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago is complicit and promoting war due to her personal, physical, mental, and moral weaknesses.
President Nicolás Maduro: A series of arrests have been carried out against what could be a group of mercenaries trained and funded by the CIA.

Syria resurfaces as divisive issue among Starmer government MPs

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: BBC
  • 13 Dec 2024 15:28
3 Min Read

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband reaffirms his decision to block UK military action against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in 2013, stating that he does not regret his stance.

  • x
  • Syria resurfaces as divisive issue among Starmer government MPs
    Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero Ed Miliband listens as he tours the exhibition area during the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool, England, Tuesday, September 24, 2024. (AP)

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has stated that he does not regret his decision to block UK military action against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in 2013, BBC reported.

At the time, Prime Minister David Cameron sought to launch an attack on Syria after reports alleged that al-Assad had used chemical weapons against his own citizens in Damascus. However, Miliband, who was leading the Labour Party, instructed his MPs to vote against the proposal, which prevented the UK from participating in military action.

Speaking on Friday, Miliband defended his stance, explaining that there was no "clear exit strategy" and that he did not want to risk British troops being placed in "harm's way".

During a Question Time appearance, Miliband’s cabinet colleague, Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who was not an MP at the time, argued that the hesitation by the UK and the US in 2013 had created a vacuum that Russia filled, enabling al-Assad to remain in power for much longer. Streeting added, "What we cannot say is that the back of Assad is going to lead to a better Syria."

When asked if he agreed with Streeting, Miliband responded, "No, I don't." He explained that, after the war on Iraq, where hundreds of British troops died and thousands were injured, the UK could not commit forces without a clear plan.

Related News

US cargo plane lands in Syria base as IOF escalate Quneitra breaches

IOF infiltrate Quneitra, violate Syrian sovereignty

He pointed out that even after US President Donald Trump bombed al-Assad in 2017 and 2018, it did not result in his downfall. Miliband concluded, "I welcome the fall of a brutal dictator… but those people who say if only we had taken military action he would have somehow fallen - I just frankly don't believe it."

Dive deeper

In 2013, the proposed action would have been airstrikes led by the US. The motion was defeated by 285 votes to 272, with opposition from Labour, 30 Conservatives, and nine Lib Dems. Following the vote, Cameron acknowledged that Parliament did not want military action and said he would "act accordingly".

Although then-US President Barack Obama had pledged to punish Syria for alleged chemical weapons use, he refrained from acting, partly due to a lack of support from allies, including the UK.

At the time, many Conservatives were frustrated, accusing Miliband of initially supporting Cameron but later reversing his stance.

Reports suggested that Miliband was warned of a potential rebellion from his MPs, many of whom were still opposed to the 2003 Iraq invasion, which reportedly left more than one million Iraqis killed.

The resurface of schism among MPs in Starmer's Cabinet comes after the fall of ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and the challenges of a new regime under HTS and the broader implications for the Middle East.

  • Syria
  • United States
  • war on Iraq
  • Keir Starmer
  • Ed Miliband
  • Bashar al-Assad

Most Read

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

  • Technology
  • 24 Oct 2025
Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

  • Politics
  • 27 Oct 2025
Abu Hamza, the spokesperson for the Al-Quds Brigades, during a speech televised on October 22, 2025 (Al-Quds Brigades Military Media)

Al-Quds Brigades' Abu Hamza mourns leaders, vows continued resistance

  • Politics
  • 22 Oct 2025
US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

  • Africa
  • 23 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Delta Air Lines flight lands at Harry Reid International Airport, Wednesday, April 9, 2025, in Las Vegas (AP)
Politics

Nearly 3,800 US flights disrupted amid ongoing government shutdown

FILE - The Amazon logo is pictured at the Amazon Robotic Sorting Fulfillment Center in Madison County, Miss., Aug. 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)
Economy

Amazon to cut 30,000 jobs in largest layoff in company history

Eurofighter Typhoon Spain's Air Force fighter jets fly above the military parade marking 'Día de la Hispanidad', or Hispanic Day, in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (AP)
Politics

UK sells 20 Eurofighter jets to Türkiye in £8bn defense agreement

Smoke billows after drone strikes by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) targeted the northern port in the Red Sea city of Port Sudan, Sudan, May 6, 2025 (AP)
Politics

RSF tightens El Fasher siege as Sudan risks fragmentation: Reuters

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS