Benn 1 Cameron 0

Prime Minister David Cameron came dangerously close a revolt in parliament when he called all those who opposed air strikes on Syria as being apologists for terrorists. It was a stupid thing to say and could have turned parliament against him. He should have apologised because there are important reasons why Britain should not get involved in air strikes on Syria. Luckily for Cameron he had an unlikely ally in Hilary Benn, the Shadow Foreign Secretary. His speech, backing the government on air strikes, underlined the fact that he has clear Labour leadership credentials, and he is an asset to his party. I suspect that Benn’s intervention helped persuade many Labour MPs to vote with the government. Perhaps more opposition Members of Parliament would have supported air strikes if Cameron hadn’t made such a stupid comment. I would say that Labour was the clear winner in the parliamentary debate on air strikes. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn gave members a free vote and this was democracy at work. Labour MPs were not under pressure to back Corbyn because even members of the Shadow Cabinet (Benn included) sided with Cameron. I think we saw an exercise in parliamentary democracy at its best. Perhaps there is a place for Corbyn-style politics in Britain. But if the Labour leader does find that he can’t handle the pressure I know who I would want to follow him. Hilary Benn is a rising star and Labour should take note.