British MPs 'Evaded Responsibilities' Say Syrian Opposition Leaders and Chemical Weapons Activists

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Syrian opposition leaders and activists from the scene of last week's chemical weapons attack say British MPs who voted against military intervention have "evaded their responsibilities".

Their comments came as footage of an incendiary bombing of a school added to fears that the Assad regime could now act against civilians with impunity.

The Syrian National Coalition said it "regretted" the House of Commons vote against intervention. The vote would encourage President Bashar al-Assad to "use chemical weapons again on a much greater scale", an official said.

Assad regime supporters came out on to the streets cheering the vote, one activist in Damascus, Susan Ahmad, told The Daily Telegraph. "They were chanting to tell Assad to keep going," she said. "They said that all the world was afraid of taking action against Assad, and nobody could stop him."

But others said the effect was more symbolic if an American-led attack went ahead anyway. The Syrian government was said to be moving weaponry and troops out of the country's military installations and into urban areas where any attack would cause mass civilian casualties. » | Ruth Sherlock, Beirut, Damien McElroy in Amman and Richard Spencer, Middle East Correspondent | Friday, August 30, 2013

MPs Urge Ministers to Open Middle East Peace Talks with Hamas Moderates
THE GUARDIAN: Commons foreign affairs committee says policy of non-engagement is achieving little

The government is facing fresh calls today from MPs to open contacts with the militant Palestinian Hamas movement in an attempt to inject new momentum into the Middle East peace process.

The Commons foreign affairs committee said the current policy of non-engagement with Hamas - which controls the Gaza strip - appeared to be achieving little.

It reiterated its call of two years ago for the government to "urgently" consider ways of engaging politically with "moderate elements" within the group.

The government refuses to talk to Hamas until it accepts the principles of the international Quartet - the United Nations, the United States, the European Union and Russia - of non-violence and acceptance of the existence of the state of Israel. >>> Press Association | Sunday, July 26 2009

MPs' Expenses: Politicians Used to Be Better, Wiser - and Older
THE TELEGRAPH: Only those who have worked outside politics can truly represent the people, says David Young.

It was at my fifth Cabinet meeting that, sitting back and idly glancing around the table, a thought struck me. Of the 21 of us in attendance, 11 had at one time started their own business. In today's House, it is hard to find Members with much outside experience at all, let alone that of working for themselves.

When Gordon Brown introduced Members' outside earnings into his review of expenses, he was continuing the process of discouraging MPs from having other interests. Politics is increasingly described as a full-time occupation, even a profession. Today, the traditional route to the House has become school, university political society, think tank and then Member; this achieves an almost total insulation from the life of their constituents.

The hours of the Commons have changed so that, instead of starting after lunch and sitting into the night, they sit in the day, finishing most days at 7pm. Politics has gone from a vocation to just another occupation. How did this come about and why?

More than 100 years ago, Parliament was a part-time affair, sitting from February to mid- August. The vast majority of Members had outside interests, there were no women and they were unpaid. That seemingly amateurish arrangement sufficed for running the largest empire the world has known.

After the First World War, the widening of suffrage allowed the entry of women and Labour replaced the Liberals. At the time of the post-war Labour government of 1945, Parliament was still part-time. Senior silks who were MPs would finish in the courts at 4pm and go down to the House. Many others were leading lights in the City or industry, in management and the unions. The Commons commanded vast experience, much of it disinterested. >>> By David Young* | Friday, May 22, 2009

*Lord Young was a minister in Margaret Thatcher's government