The Home Secretary – and Maidenhead MP – Theresa May was out of the country yesterday on Government business.
She has just returned and told The Wokingham Paper why she supported the Government motion to carry out air strikes in Syria as a response to Daesh (IS).
Ms May, whose constituency includes Twyford, said: “I welcome the vote in the House of Commons which will allow the UK to extend airstrikes to include Syria, as well as Iraq, as part of counter-Daesh coalition operations.
“It is particularly welcome that this action was supported by a clear cross-party majority of MPs.
“Daesh is a brutal terrorist organisation that is unleashing horrendous violence upon the people of Syria. It has already killed British citizens and no fewer than seven terrorist plots to attack the UK have been disrupted over the past year, every one of which was either linked to or inspired by Daesh.
“I am in no doubt that it is in our national interest for action to be taken against Daesh, and it would seriously hamper our efforts if we were not able to act in Syria, where the group is headquartered.
“British airstrikes are already having a positive impact in Iraq and it makes no sense for our efforts to stop at the Syrian border, a border that Daesh themselves do not recognise.
“Military action is just one part of the broad approach that we need, and that is why I strongly support the Government’s efforts to support the diplomatic and political process in Syria, and our humanitarian aid which is delivering vital help to refugees in the region.”
