Lib Dems demand mandatory vote in Parliament before any British forces sent to conflict zones as nearly 60% of Britons back a vote ahead of any UK action in Iran

EMBARGO: Immediate Release

The Liberal Democrats have tabled a bill to legally require a Parliamentary vote ahead of the Government deploying British soldiers abroad, as compelling polling commissioned by the party shows that nearly 6 in 10 Britons (57%) believe Parliament should vote on any UK military action taken in Iran.

The Liberal Democrats are pushing measures that would require a mandatory vote in Parliament before any Government deployment of British troops, as the conflict in the Middle Ease continues to escalate.

A ceasefire brokered by Donald Trump and the US administration broke down yesterday morning (Tuesday 24 June), UK time, with reports suggesting violations by both Iran and Israel.

The party’s Foreign Affairs Spokesperson, Calum Miller, has tabled a bill which would mandate parliamentary approval for the deployment of UK armed forces into overseas conflict zones.

Miller said that “the strongest democratic scrutiny our country can offer” would allow for the best possible decisions to be made regarding British soldiers’ deployment – including protection from any future potential decisions made by an overexcited executive, in the model of Donald Trump.

The bill makes clear that emergency military deployments or responses – including requirements to comply with treaty obligations, or the need to defend a UK asset or resource under attack, for example – could come with the provision for retrospective parliamentary approval.

The bill comes as the party’s polling reveals that a striking 57% or nearly 6 in 10 Britons would support Parliament having to vote ahead of any UK military intervention in Iran, with just 24% opposing Parliament voting on the issue. A huge 64% of 2024 Labour voters believed that Parliament should vote on whether the UK launches military action in Iran. In opposition, Keir Starmer himself backed a Prevention of Military Intervention Act, legislation which would have given Parliament a formal role in authorising military action.

Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs Spokesperson, Calum Miller MP, said:

“With the Middle East in the throes of an all-out regional war, we are reckoning once again  with the prospect of the UK becoming embroiled in foreign conflict.

“No one knows the fragility of peace in that region, or the price paid for our safety, better than our British troops. It's critical that, if they are asked to put their lives on the line for the UK in active conflict zones, this decision is subject to the strongest democratic scrutiny our country can offer.

“If the Government chooses to put our troops directly in the line of fire, Parliament must be granted a vote on that choice before they are deployed – especially now, as the Prime Minister weighs up following another American President into war in the Middle East.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors: 

Methodology: Savanta interviewed 1,969 UK adults aged 18+ online between 20 th and 23rd June 2025. Data were weighted to be representative of the UK by age, sex, region, and social grade.

Please see the full text of the Presentation Bill below:

Armed Forces (Deployment Outside the UK) Bill

Bill to require parliamentary approval for the deployment of UK armed forces outside the UK; 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.

Please see a list of Presentation Bills, compiled by the House of Commons Library, that have successfully passed here – with most recent bills at the bottom of the spreadsheet.