FROM STEVE
BRINE MP
As readers of Village Voice will be aware,
Parliament returned early last month for its
long run towards Christmas following the
chemical weapons attacks in Syria. The
Brine family was indeed on holiday but,
watching our two on the beach enjoying the
innocent fun of sandcastles and ice-creams,
it was hard to begrudge our attention on a
crisis which saw Sarin nerve agents kill and
injure small children.
Although the vote, when it came, was not to
directly authorise military action it was a big
moment and one every MP agonised
over. In the end, I supported the Prime
Minister in his request for the House of
Commons to condemn utterly this breach of
the chemical weapons convention (which
Syria is a signatory to, for the record) and for
us to go down the UN route pending a
second vote which would have sanctioned
British involvement in any strike. But, and I
am not ashamed to say this, my view
changed as I sat through more than seven
hours of debate that day and I made it clear
to my boss that I would not be able to
support military action if he were to put that
question to the House.
For me, I am clear that a war crime has been
committed and President Assad should face
the consequences under international law
and I do think – as a world power with strong
democratic values – we have a duty not to
walk on by on the other side. But, to develop
the Good Samaritan analogy further, I am far
from clear whether a military strike would be
aiming to stop the robber or help the injured
man. I think, and I believe the majority of my
constituents agree, military action will make
a bad situation worse and I am proud our
country is using its ‘soft power’ to see this
call does not go unanswered. Much more at
www.stevebrine.com/syria
The new political season, spiked as it is by
the tedious party conference season,
promises to be busy for me in Westminster
and Winchester. In Parliament we have big
debates to come, around Lobbying and
Trade Union reform - and no doubt further
foreign policy challenges - while my work on
the Justice Committee will hopefully see our
major crime reduction inquiry published
which we hope to be well received by
Government. Locally, I look forward to
visiting the Watercress Company, Sun Hill
Juniors and the incredibly successful Home
Instead Carers where I will be presenting
new professional qualification certificates to
a number of their growing workforce. I will
also be back in Alresford with Cllr Lisa
Griffiths for the latest of my popular street
surgeries; details to be posted at
www.stevebrine.com/alresford
Finally, the Bighton Fete always marks the
final fling of Summer and this year was no
different. I have to say it looked in do ՉЁ