Airstrip One

Should Parliament vote to deploy troops? - 25th November 2002, 22.18

There was a revolt by 32 Labour MPs on this very issue. A small minority stood up for an amendment of both constitutional and contemporary significance. The dissenters had no chance of winning but, given the huge power of the executive over the legislature, there are strong grounds for demanding that the deployment of British troops should be subjected to a vote in the House of Commons. The executive would still win this vote but it would provide stronger support for the role of Parliament and increase accountability.

Such a step would not transform our constitution but it would rein back the ambitions of particular Prime Ministers who move our armed forces around the globe like toytown soldiers on a bedroom floor.