MPs Demand Parliamentary Approval for Decisions on War

Neil Gerrard, Labour MP for Walthamstow, with cross-Party backing, has this week introduced his Private Members Bill which would mean that the approval of Parliament would in future be required for the armed forces to be involved in armed conflict, or for a declaration of war.

A draft Bill containing these proposals was put forward by the Public Administration Select Committee of the House of Commons in March last year, following their inquiry into the prerogative powers of Ministers, and how Ministerial accountability to Parliament could be strengthened.

The Bill would mean that a resolution of both the Commons and the Lords would be needed to approve the participation of British forces in armed conflict. It would not prevent the forces acting in self defence if they were attacked. It would also allow the Prime Minister to decide that in a situation of extreme urgency action could be taken, provided that the approval of Parliament was sought as soon as possible.

“The objective of the Bill is to give Parliament powers over critical decisions relating to conflict and war” said Mr Gerrard. “At present the Government can decide to call a vote in Parliament, as was of course done in the case of Iraq, but does not have to do so. No votes were taken in advance of actions in Afghanistan or Kosovo, even though it was clear that military action was being contemplated.”

“This Bill would ensure that Parliament had the right to a vote in future, and would no longer be dependent on the Government deciding whether or not to call one. I am delighted that I have the backing of senior MPs from five Parties in proposing this Bill, which I believe shows that it would be welcomed by the majority of Members of Parliament.”

The Bill is entitled “Armed Forces (Parliamentary Approval for Participation in Armed Conflict) Bill and has been put down for Second Reading on Friday 4^th March 2005.

The Public Administration Select Committee report was the Fourth Report of Session 2003-4, entitled “Taming the Prerogative: Strengthening Ministerial Accountability to Parliament” and was published on 4^th March 2004.

The full list of MPs sponsoring the Bill is:

Neil Gerrard (Labour), Dr Tony Wright (Labour, Chair of the Public Administration Committee), William Hague (Conservative), Sir Menzies Campbell (Lib Dem Foreign Affairs Spokesperson), Alex Salmond (Leader, SNP), Simon Thomas (Plaid Cymru), Andrew Bennett (Labour, Chair of the Environment Select Committee), Gordon Prentice (Labour), Douglas Hogg (Conservative), Richard Allan (Lib Dem), Kelvin Hopkins (Labour), and Brian White (Labour).

Jan 2005

Home Page     |     News & Views     |     Press Archive