Houthi strikes: Lib Dems to table Bill giving MPs a vote over UK military action

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The Liberal Democrats are set to table a Bill which will give Parliament a vote over military action. The Lib Dem legislation - dubbed the ‘War Powers Bill’ - will enshrine the right for MPs to approve military action into law. 

It comes following criticism levelled at Rishi Sunak, who has failed to grant MPs a vote on the UK’s strikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen. 

From the 2000s onwards, MPs were frequently given the opportunity to vote on military action and intervention. In emergency cases, retrospective votes have been facilitated, such as with the intervention in Libya in 2011.

Liberal Democrat Defence Spokesperson Richard Foord MP commented:

“Parliament must not be bypassed on an issue as important as military action, in circumstances like those we have seen in recent days.

“For Rishi Sunak to attempt to ignore elected representatives is disgraceful. The Prime Minister is riding roughshod over a democratic convention.

“It’s time we ensure that the approval of a decision to take military action rests with our sovereign Parliament. This Bill will ensure that MPs can reflect the views of our constituents on military action - not just in relation to the strikes in Yemen - but in the future.”

ENDS

Notes to Editor

The planned legislation due to be presented by the Liberal Democrats is as follows:

Military Action (Parliamentary Approval) Bill

Bill to require parliamentary approval for the deployment of UK armed forces for armed conflict; to provide for exemptions from that requirement in cases of emergency or in respect of compliance with treaty obligations; to make provision for retrospective parliamentary approval in certain circumstances; and for connected purposes.