Today’s news continues coverage of operations in Paris. The French Parliament will vote today on extending emergency powers and its state of emergency, while investigators continue to examine the outcome of yesterday’s raid in St Denis.
Syria vote
It is reported widely that the Prime Minister rejects suggestions that British military action against ISIL in Syria should await a UN resolution, amid claims that ministers have become increasingly confident that they can win a House of Commons vote on the issue. It is reported in The Times, The Financial Times and Daily Telegraph that the Defence Secretary has invited MPs to a briefing on December 2 on the topic. The Prime Minister is expected to make a detailed response to a report on his strategy by the Foreign Affairs Committee next month, according to The FT and Guardian.
The Telegraph quotes the Foreign Secretary as saying Britain has a “perfectly sound legal base” for extending strikes to Syria and General Sir David Richards, a former Chief of Defence Staff, is quoted as saying Britain should abandon its “contradictory war aims” and accept President Assad must remain in power. The Sun reports General Richards as saying the mission against ISIL in Syria is “a moral issue”. Leaders in The Times and Independent argue that Parliament must approve air attacks in Syria. The Daily Mail splashes on a poll claiming that 60% of Britons want the RAF to bomb ISIL following the Paris attack, though its front page comment urges caution over action that may, in their opinion, make the situation at home worse. According to the Daily Mail poll, half of voters support sending in ground troops. In separate polls, The Daily Mirror says 72% and The Sun says 58% think the UK should consider launching airstrikes against ISIL in Syria.
RAF plane for ministers
The Daily Telegraph, The Times, The Sun, Daily Mail and the Daily Mirror report that the Prime Minister and senior ministers will use a converted RAF plane for long-distance trips instead of chartered flights. The Government will announce next week that it will spend £10million refitting a RAF Voyager, which is normally used for air-to-air refuelling, in reports attributed to a Government source. Ministers claim the plane will save the taxpayer up to £775,000 a year on the cost of flights. The story also runs on BBC online.
A Government spokesperson said:
As part of the Government’s defence review, we have been looking at ways to make better use of the RAF fleet to transport senior ministers and consequently deliver savings for taxpayers. We have decided to adapt one of our existing Voyager aircraft so that, in addition to its primary air tanking role, it can transport ministers and it will also be available for the Royal family to use. This will save taxpayers around £775,000 a year on ministerial travel. The full details will be set out in the SDSR, which will be published on Monday.
Falkland Islands Rescue
The Sun reports that the RAF and Royal Navy rescued 347 passengers from a cruise liner off the Falkland Islands yesterday. HMS Clyde, two RAF Sea King helicopters, a C-130 Hercules and a Voyager aircraft were involved in the mission.
Read more about this story here.
New Armoured Vehicle tracks
The Daily Telegraph, Daily Mail and The Sun report on a new £70m MOD deal for a British steel firm. The contract for the British Army’s tanks and armoured vehicles was given to privately owned company Cook Defence Systems, based in County Durham. The company will supply the steel and rubber tracks for vehicles including the Challenger II main battle tanks, Warrior armoured personnel carriers and Scimitar reconnaissance vehicles. More than 100 jobs in the North East have been secured by the deal, according to reports.
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said:
This contract is good news. It continues a long and proud tradition by the William Cook Group, which has been providing track and armour for British tanks since the Second World War. It is part of our £166 billion plan to ensure our armed forces have the equipment they need. It will sustain jobs here in the North East and hundreds more within the wider UK supply chain.
HMS Defender
The Guardian and Daily Mirror include the story of Royal Navy warship HMS Defender supporting French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle as it deploys to the Gulf to tackle ISIL.
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said:
France is firmly resolved in its determination to tackle ISIL and we need to help too. This barbaric terrorist organisation must be destroyed and it’s right that we offer all the support we can to confront them. We will continue our own advanced surveillance and strike missions against ISIL. They are a threat to our security in the UK, as well as to France and the rest of Europe. We will consider any further requests for support from France under Article 42.7 of the EU Treaty following Friday’s Paris terror attacks.
