The Syria bombing campaign was put firmly at the heart of the London mayoral contest today as Labour’s Sadiq Khan said he would vote against air strikes on Islamic State.
His decision put him at odds with Tory rival Zac Goldsmith who was backing military action against the “cancerous” extremists. It raises the prospect of the Syria conflict dominating the months in the run-up to the London elections next May.
Tooting MP Mr Khan, who the Standard understands was planning to support the strikes as recently as this weekend, was said to have changed his mind after receiving a government security briefing and reading the detail of the Commons motion. Aides said he had found the decision “very difficult” even though his local constituency party backed action — and stressed he was not ruling it out in future.
Mr Khan told the Standard: “My top priority is keeping Londoners safe. This is a difficult and finely balanced decision, but I’m leaning towards voting against military action on this occasion because the Government haven’t yet convinced me it will make London safer or help weaken, let alone defeat Isil (Islamic State).
“I will listen carefully to the Prime Minister’s argument today to see if he is able to show how these plans will be effective in keeping London safe.”
Mr Goldsmith was the only mayoral candidate to back the strikes. He said: “Nobody can state with absolute certainty that bombing IS in Syria will have the effect we’re hoping for. But it must be right to stand with our allies and attempt to cripple their infrastructure to help regional forces in their efforts against a cancerous ideology that threatens us at home.”
Respect’s George Galloway said the Government’s plan was “ill-conceived, ill-intentioned and, I’m absolutely certain, ill-fated.”
Green Sian Berry warned that “raining bombs on other countries” in response to terrorist attacks would lead to “carnage on our own streets”. Lib-Dem Caroline Pidgeon also opposed military action saying she was not yet convinced by the post-war plan.
