Conservative spokesman, Mark Brotherston, has questioned Sylvia Hermon’s Westminster priorities, after the North Down MP voted to recognise Palestine in the House of Commons, yet failed to attend a debate which decided whether the UK could become involved in attacks against ISIS.
“It’s a strange hierarchy of priorities, given that these were both votes about the Middle East”, Mark argued. “The Palestinian debate centred on an extremely controversial issue, but the vote was symbolic and does not bind the government. In contrast, the vote on ISIS established whether British forces could become involved in conflict. It is a curious choice to vote to recognise Palestine, while not debating a current terrorist threat to the UK and to Christians in the Middle East.”
“The arguments around Israel and Palestine are fiercely contentious and rouse strong passions around the world. It is by no means clear how the motion, which Sylvia Hermon backed, can improve the situation in the region, or contribute to a lasting peace. I suspect people in North Down would have preferred to have had a voice on the very real threat which ISIS poses, both at home and abroad.”