Ed Miliband quizzed on not backing action in Syria in 2013
The Cabinet has descended into open warfare this morning after Wes Streeting blasted a crucial misstep by Labour under Ed Miliband's leadership in the early 2010s.
The Health Secretary launched an astonishing war of words at his cabinet colleague, blasting the decision to oppose military action against Syrian president Bashar al-Assad in 2013.
DON'T MISS
Powered by
Nato chief issues new warning to Trump over Russia-North Korea nuclear threat
17 Comments
Sir Keir Starmer warns it is too early to remove Islamist rebels from terror list
41 Comments
Why Nato chief fears Trump's peace plan will have West's worst enemies 'high-fiving'
46 Comments
Exactly how Elon Musk could back Farage and buy a huge say in UK politics
1188 Comments
POLL: Should MPs vote to legalise assisted dying on Friday?
74 Comments
'They are not welcome!' Reform MP fury as 609 illegal migrants arrive in single day
86 Comments
Labour civil war erupts as Ed Miliband blasted by Wes Streeting over devastating decision
222 Comments
Rachel Reeves warned furious tractor protesters are poised to target her constituency
68 Comments
POLL: Is Rachel Reeves the worst Chancellor ever? Have your say
247 Comments
Rachel Reeves is making yet another vital component of the economy even harder
7 Comments
Rachel Reeves is keeping Britain stuck in a doom loop of low growth
87 Comments
Nigel Farage's Reform UK wins yet another by-election as Labour loses control of seat
422 Comments
New SNP scandal erupts as 'Nicola Sturgeon's stormtroopers' cause chaos in party civil war
34 Comments
Prince Andrew links to 'Chinese spy' branded 'extremely embarrassing' for UK
64 Comments
Wes Streeting admits fateful Labour choice ‘kept Assad in power' in Question Time debate
38 Comments
Iran on the brink as infighting explodes over ally Syria's collapse
61 Comments
Turkey's Erdogan issues chilling comment about Putin in snub to the West
31 Comments
Home Office 'may remove' Syrian rebels behind Assad's downfall from terror list
26 Comments
Nigel Farage has just one question to ask himself after Reform UK surge
675 Comments
Ed Miliband is fast-resembling a cult leader - only no-one cares what he says
108 Comments
Nato chief issues new warning to Trump over Russia-North Korea nuclear threat
17 Comments
Sir Keir Starmer warns it is too early to remove Islamist rebels from terror list
41 Comments
Why Nato chief fears Trump's peace plan will have West's worst enemies 'high-fiving'
46 Comments
Exactly how Elon Musk could back Farage and buy a huge say in UK politics
1188 Comments
POLL: Should MPs vote to legalise assisted dying on Friday?
74 Comments
'They are not welcome!' Reform MP fury as 609 illegal migrants arrive in single day
86 Comments
Labour civil war erupts as Ed Miliband blasted by Wes Streeting over devastating decision
222 Comments
Rachel Reeves warned furious tractor protesters are poised to target her constituency
68 Comments
POLL: Is Rachel Reeves the worst Chancellor ever? Have your say
247 Comments
Rachel Reeves is making yet another vital component of the economy even harder
7 Comments
Rachel Reeves is keeping Britain stuck in a doom loop of low growth
87 Comments
Nigel Farage's Reform UK wins yet another by-election as Labour loses control of seat
422 Comments
New SNP scandal erupts as 'Nicola Sturgeon's stormtroopers' cause chaos in party civil war
34 Comments
Prince Andrew links to 'Chinese spy' branded 'extremely embarrassing' for UK
64 Comments
Wes Streeting admits fateful Labour choice ‘kept Assad in power' in Question Time debate
38 Comments
Iran on the brink as infighting explodes over ally Syria's collapse
61 Comments
Turkey's Erdogan issues chilling comment about Putin in snub to the West
31 Comments
Home Office 'may remove' Syrian rebels behind Assad's downfall from terror list
26 Comments
Nigel Farage has just one question to ask himself after Reform UK surge
675 Comments
Ed Miliband is fast-resembling a cult leader - only no-one cares what he says
108 Comments
Nato chief issues new warning to Trump over Russia-North Korea nuclear threat
17 Comments
Sir Keir Starmer warns it is too early to remove Islamist rebels from terror list
41 Comments
Why Nato chief fears Trump's peace plan will have West's worst enemies 'high-fiving'
46 Comments
Exactly how Elon Musk could back Farage and buy a huge say in UK politics
1188 Comments
POLL: Should MPs vote to legalise assisted dying on Friday?
74 Comments
'They are not welcome!' Reform MP fury as 609 illegal migrants arrive in single day
86 Comments
Labour civil war erupts as Ed Miliband blasted by Wes Streeting over devastating decision
222 Comments
After the dictator used chemical weapons against his own people, then-PM David Cameron asked parliament to vote in favour of military intervention in Syria to deter the crime from ever happening again.
While Ed Miliband initially told No. 10 he was supportive of action, he sensationally pulled support at the last minute for party political purposes.
The US subsequently got cold feet, and decided it would not take action without Britain's backing.
READ MORE: Piers Morgan’s devastating 5-word verdict on Labour housing plans in BBC QT rant
Wes Streeting blasted Ed Miliband (Image: Getty)
Mr Streeting criticised Ed Miliband's decision in 2013 (Image: BBC)
Get the latest politics news straight to your phone Join us on WhatsApp Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
On Question Time last night, Mr Streeting observed: "If the West had acted faster, Assad would have been gone."
"With hindsight, I think we can say, looking back on the events of 2013, that the hesitation of this country and the United States created a vacuum that Russia moved into and kept Assad in power for much longer.”
Mr Miliband openly boasted about his decision to stand up to President Obama, though it was thought he had opposed intervention due to Labour still bitterly divided about the decision to go to war in Iraq.
The Climate Secretary has now hit back, describing his senior Cabinet colleague as "just wrong".
Mr Miliband told Times Radio: "The decision I was confronted with in 2013 was whether we did a bombing of President Assad without any clear plan for British military engagement, where it would lead and what it would mean.
Don't miss...
Prince Andrew links to 'Chinese spy' branded 'extremely embarrassing' [LATEST]
Rachel Reeves in humiliating admission over economy as Tories warn of tax hikes [LATEST]
Fiona Bruce skewers Wes Streeting over Labour's housing plans on BBC QT [LATEST]
SUBSCRIBE Invalid email
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
“Do you look back on that decision with any regret?”
“No.”@Ed_Miliband says he has no regrets voting against bombing Syria in 2013.@ChloeTilley | #TimesRadio pic.twitter.com/A8ZfXak5pT
— Times Radio (@TimesRadio) December 13, 2024
Trending
“And I believe then, and I do now, that one of the most important lessons of the Iraq war is we shouldn’t go into military intervention without a clear plan, including an exit strategy.
DON'T MISS
Powered by
Nato chief issues new warning to Trump over Russia-North Korea nuclear threat
17 Comments
Sir Keir Starmer warns it is too early to remove Islamist rebels from terror list
41 Comments
Why Nato chief fears Trump's peace plan will have West's worst enemies 'high-fiving'
46 Comments
Exactly how Elon Musk could back Farage and buy a huge say in UK politics
1188 Comments
POLL: Should MPs vote to legalise assisted dying on Friday?
74 Comments
'They are not welcome!' Reform MP fury as 609 illegal migrants arrive in single day
85 Comments
Labour civil war erupts as Ed Miliband blasted by Wes Streeting over devastating decision
220 Comments
Rachel Reeves warned furious tractor protesters are poised to target her constituency
68 Comments
POLL: Is Rachel Reeves the worst Chancellor ever? Have your say
247 Comments
Rachel Reeves is making yet another vital component of the economy even harder
7 Comments
Rachel Reeves is keeping Britain stuck in a doom loop of low growth
87 Comments
Nigel Farage's Reform UK wins yet another by-election as Labour loses control of seat
422 Comments
New SNP scandal erupts as 'Nicola Sturgeon's stormtroopers' cause chaos in party civil war
34 Comments
Prince Andrew links to 'Chinese spy' branded 'extremely embarrassing' for UK
64 Comments
Wes Streeting admits fateful Labour choice ‘kept Assad in power' in Question Time debate
38 Comments
Iran on the brink as infighting explodes over ally Syria's collapse
61 Comments
Turkey's Erdogan issues chilling comment about Putin in snub to the West
31 Comments
Home Office 'may remove' Syrian rebels behind Assad's downfall from terror list
26 Comments
Nigel Farage has just one question to ask himself after Reform UK surge
675 Comments
Ed Miliband is fast-resembling a cult leader - only no-one cares what he says
108 Comments
Nato chief issues new warning to Trump over Russia-North Korea nuclear threat
17 Comments
Sir Keir Starmer warns it is too early to remove Islamist rebels from terror list
41 Comments
Why Nato chief fears Trump's peace plan will have West's worst enemies 'high-fiving'
46 Comments
Exactly how Elon Musk could back Farage and buy a huge say in UK politics
1188 Comments
POLL: Should MPs vote to legalise assisted dying on Friday?
74 Comments
'They are not welcome!' Reform MP fury as 609 illegal migrants arrive in single day
85 Comments
Labour civil war erupts as Ed Miliband blasted by Wes Streeting over devastating decision
220 Comments
Rachel Reeves warned furious tractor protesters are poised to target her constituency
68 Comments
POLL: Is Rachel Reeves the worst Chancellor ever? Have your say
247 Comments
Rachel Reeves is making yet another vital component of the economy even harder
7 Comments
Rachel Reeves is keeping Britain stuck in a doom loop of low growth
87 Comments
Nigel Farage's Reform UK wins yet another by-election as Labour loses control of seat
422 Comments
New SNP scandal erupts as 'Nicola Sturgeon's stormtroopers' cause chaos in party civil war
34 Comments
Prince Andrew links to 'Chinese spy' branded 'extremely embarrassing' for UK
64 Comments
Wes Streeting admits fateful Labour choice ‘kept Assad in power' in Question Time debate
38 Comments
Iran on the brink as infighting explodes over ally Syria's collapse
61 Comments
Turkey's Erdogan issues chilling comment about Putin in snub to the West
31 Comments
Home Office 'may remove' Syrian rebels behind Assad's downfall from terror list
26 Comments
Nigel Farage has just one question to ask himself after Reform UK surge
675 Comments
Ed Miliband is fast-resembling a cult leader - only no-one cares what he says
108 Comments
Nato chief issues new warning to Trump over Russia-North Korea nuclear threat
17 Comments
Sir Keir Starmer warns it is too early to remove Islamist rebels from terror list
41 Comments
Why Nato chief fears Trump's peace plan will have West's worst enemies 'high-fiving'
46 Comments
Exactly how Elon Musk could back Farage and buy a huge say in UK politics
1188 Comments
POLL: Should MPs vote to legalise assisted dying on Friday?
74 Comments
'They are not welcome!' Reform MP fury as 609 illegal migrants arrive in single day
85 Comments
Labour civil war erupts as Ed Miliband blasted by Wes Streeting over devastating decision
220 Comments
“Now, we know that President Trump, when he was in power, bombed Syria in 2017 and 2018. Clearly, that didn’t produce the fall of President Assad’s regime. So when people say that somehow if we bombed President Assad in 2013, he would have toppled over, frankly, it’s just wrong.”
“I think it is very easy for people to say that the answer to the problems of the world is British military intervention, but as I said earlier, in this case we have a clear understanding of what the consequences might have been because in 2017 and 2018 there was military action against President Assad and it certainly didn’t precipitate the fall of his regime.
“I took the decisions I did because the British involvement in Iraq led to the deaths of our troops and was, rightly in my view, seen as a very serious error and so without re-going over all of that history, I think we drew the right lessons from that.”