Among the speeches to attract most attention was by shadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn – in opposition to his own party leader Jeremy Corbyn who called on MPs to reject the military option proposed by the Prime Minister.
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George Kerevan posted a message on Twitter during a Commons speech by Mr Benn’s son, Hilary, when he spoke passionately in favour of airstrikes against so-called Islamic State.
Jeremy Corbyn, the leader of the Labour Party, who has recently been branded as a “cheerleader” for ‘angry, intolerant pacifism’due to his unwillingness to engage ISIS, apparently sat stony-faced throughout the speech as Benn made his case.
Addressing his party directly, the shadow foreign secretary said: “We must now confront this evil”.
Hilary Benn’s contribution to the House of Commons’ debate on airstrikes ended in a round of applause from lawmakers on both sides of the chamber – a highly unusual display from Members of Parliament.
The comments contrast with the view stated by Mr Benn in his speech two weeks later.
Mr McDonnell said any complaints would be investigated and members using “unacceptable” bullying or abuse on either side of the debate would face disciplinary action.
Another MP, Angela Smith, described the speech as “moving” and “immensely powerful”, and said Labour MPs were moved to tears by the speech, the Daily Mirror reported.
The shadow chancellor was forced to deny he was calling his colleague a warmonger, adding: “I’m just saying sometimes the greatest oratory can lead us to the greatest mistakes and that’s what we did in Iraq”. They hold us in contempt.
“And what we know about fascists is that they need to be defeated and it is why, as we have heard tonight, socialists and trade unionists were just one part of the global brigade in the 1930s to fight against Franco”, Benn continued. “Several” MPs’ offices had been barricaded by protesters and one had her house surrounded, while others had been sent photos of dead babies and severed heads, he told the Commons.
Some MPs have said that messages attacking them came from social media addresses that appeared to be linked to Momentum, the organisation set up by Corbyn supporters in the wake of his successful leadership campaign earlier this year.
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A day of drama, passion and fury in Westminster ended with MPs backing air strikes by 397 to 223, a majority of 174.
