Labour MPs must be held to account over failure to vote on Yemen campaign
![Mourners in Sana’a bury the coffin of Major-General Omar bin Halles Yafei and his son Captain Mohammed Omar Yafei, who were killed by an apparent Saudi-led airstrike on a wake attended by some of the country’s top political and security officials [Image: Mohamed Al-Sayaghi/Reuters].](https://voxpoliticalonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/161028-Yemen-funeral.png)
Mourners in Sana’a bury the coffin of Major-General Omar bin Halles Yafei and his son Captain Mohammed Omar Yafei, who were killed by an apparent Saudi-led airstrike on a wake attended by some of the country’s top political and security officials [Image: Mohamed Al-Sayaghi/Reuters].
If it is more backstabbing, then it has backfired. Public opinion is against the UK helping a foreign country to commit war crimes.
If nothing else, it weakens our argument against Russian military activities in Syria.
Some Labour MPs were absent from the vote for good reason; others were not. A list of all those who were missing follows this excerpt from the Guardian‘s report:
Dozens of Labour MPs are facing a backlash for being absent from their party’s motion to withdraw UK support from Saudi Arabia’s war on Yemen, with Emily Thornberry, the shadow foreign secretary, calling their actions disappointing.
Thornberry said the motion would have sent a message to the government that MPs do not want to back the war without an independent UN investigation into whether the Saudi-led coalition is breaking humanitarian law.
About 100 Labour MPs were missing or deliberately abstained from the vote on Wednesday, which failed by 283 votes to 193, although several dozen were given authorised absences by the whips.
In response, Thornberry, who argued for the motion from the Labour frontbench, said she was disappointed with her colleagues for abstaining and disgusted with the Conservatives who voted against withdrawing support from Saudi Arabia.
One Labour MP, who is not supportive of the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, but voted for the motion, said he was frustrated and upset that a number of his colleagues were “using the issue as a way of trying to beat Jeremy”.
Source: Labour MPs face backlash over failure to vote on Yemen campaign | World news | The Guardian
More than 90 per cent of SNP MPs supported Jeremy Corbyn’s motion to halt sales of arms to Saudi Arabia for its war with Yemen – and fewer than 60 per cent of Labour MPs. It seems many Labour MPs have a lot of explaining to do – not just to their constituents but to the people of Yemen [Image: Eoin Clarke].
[More than] 100 Labour MPs did not vote on the motion. If all of them had voted to support it, the government would have been defeated.The following [is an incomplete] list [of] the Labour MPs who abstained or were not present for the vote.
- Adrian Bailey
- Andy Burnham
- Angela Eagle
- Angela Smith
- Ann Clwyd
- Ann Coffey
- Anna Turley
- Barry Sheerman
- Ben Bradshaw
- Bridgit Phillipson
- Caroline Flint
- Catherine McKinnell
- Chris Bryant
- Chris Elmore (Teller)
- Chris Evans
- Chris Leslie
- Clive Lewis (ill)
- Connor McGinn
- Dan Jarvis
- David Crausby
- David Lammy
- Diana Johnson
- Fiona MacTaggart
- Frank Field
- Gareth Thomas
- Gavin Shuker
- Geoffrey Robinson
- George Howarth
- Gerald Kaufman
- Gill Furniss
- Gisela Stuart
- Gloria De Piero
- Graeme Jones
- Graham Allen
- Graham Stringer
- Heidi Alexander
- Helen Jones
- Ian Austin
- Ian Murray
- Ivan Lewis
- Jamie Reed
- Jim Fitzpatrick
- Joan Ryan
- John Mann
- John Spellar
- John Woodcock
- Judith Cummins (Teller)
- Julie Elliott
- Kate Hoey
- Keith Vaz
- Kevan Jones
- Kevin Barron
- Liz Kendall
- Luciana Berger
- Lucy Powell
- Madeleine Moon
- Margaret Beckett
- Margaret Hodge
- Maria Eagle
- Mark Hendrick
- Mary Creagh
- Meg Hillier
- Melanie Onn
- Michael Dugher
- Mike Gapes
- Natascha Engel
- Neil Coyle
- Nia Griffith
- Pat McFadden
- Paul Flynn
- Peter Kyle
- Phil Wilson
- Rachel Reeves
- Rob Flello
- Rob Marris
- Roberta Blackman-Woods
- Rosena Allin-Khan
- Rosie Cooper
- Rushanara Ali
- Ruth Smeeth
- Shabana Mahmood
- Siobhain McDonagh
- Stephen Kinnock
- Susan Jones
- Toby Perkins
- Tom Blenkinsopp
- Tom Watson
- Tracy Brabin
- Tristram Hunt
- Vernon Coaker
- Wayne David
- Wes Streeting
- Yasmin Qureshi
- Yvonne Fovargue
Many of these abstainees are the usual suspects, who appear to be voting (or not) against the proposer of this humane motion rather than the motion itself. This result will go down in the annals of ‘political’ infamy! I would humbly suggest that constituents of these hostile warmongering reprobates, should let them know, in no uncertain terms, that their days are numbered and they will not be voting for them to keep their seats.
Jeremy Corbyn has been very careful to avoid calling for the deselection of certain Labour MPs. However, if some of them continue to behave in this manner, then there surely must be questions raised by their CLPs as to their suitability to represent the party in parliament.
Every one a low life I only hope when terrorist do finaly turn up in the UK as they keep telling us they will, its these people that get it first and not some poor innocent person they should be made to give there reason for they crime agains humanity
Jamie Reed et al. Kell supreez. The list reads like a register of people you wouldn’t trust to walk your dog.
So what’s their comuppance? How do they get deselected? Is Corbyn going to keep letting these berks walk all over him?
How comes it that Labour List reports that “dozens” of Labour MPs were given authorised absences from a 3-line whip? Is there any way we can get hold of a list of authorised absences?
Rosie Cooper is recovering from a knee replacement op. She replied to a tweet when I asked her why she didn’t vote.
Anna Turley claims that the wording was wrong and she stayed away following a letter from a Yemeni ambassador asking her not to support the motion.
Thanks for that information; as I mentioned, some were away for good reasons. It is useful to have details.
The same old Blairite snout-in-the-trough, in it for themselves apologists who should now be deselected at the first opportunity. They obviously care nothing for what their constituents think, the majority of whom would certainly not want their MP, representing them, to abstain on the issue of bombing, killing and starving innocent children. But we’re not surprised are we, since most of these callous individuals voted for the Iraq war and love Blair, and his policies, with a passion. Boot them out of our party now – we dont want to be associated with these blots on the landscapes, stains on humanity.
Revolting & despicable behaviour. Once again they are proving that they are not fit for purpose. So they think it is acceptable to ignore the inhumane suffering of an innocent people do they? Or is it just nasty spite? Regardless I sincerely agree they should be questioned & if necessary deselected. They do not represent anyone else but their ugly selves.
Disgusting !!!!