World

Parliament Decision to Bomb Syria Breaks With UK Voters

REUTERS/Darren Staples

Daily Caller News Foundation logo
Russ Read Pentagon/Foreign Policy Reporter
Font Size:

The U.K. parliament voted Wednesday to expand air strikes in Syria, but a recent poll suggests voters might not be on board.

Just hours after a convincing 397 to 223 vote in favor of expanding the campaign, U.K. forces began an extended bombing raid against ISIS targets in Syria. An impromptu Economist poll published Thursday shows that of those surveyed, 47 percent are against the air strikes, 42percent are in favor and 11 percent are undecided. (RELATED: The British Are Coming! U.K. Votes To Bomb ISIS In Syria)

Conservatives voted almost unanimously in favor of the strikes, but it was a key contingent from the Labour party that broke rank to skew the numbers. Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the Labour party, has been particularly vocal in his opposition to Prime Minister David Cameron’s call for extended air operations against ISIS in Syria.

A recent Daily Mail poll shows Corbyn is the “most unpopular new party leader ever,” and that unpopularity was witnessed as 76 of Corbyn’s 229 broke rank voting in favor of the strikes.

Though Parliament’s debate lasted 10 hours, the effects of the U.K. air expansion are likely to be of little consequence, experts say. Speaking to reporters yesterday, Arizona Sen. John McCain expressed doubts that the U.K. additions would make a significant difference against ISIS. The recent vote will bring the total number of U.K.  attack planes operating against ISIS to 16. (RELATED: McCain Calls For New Rules Of War Against ISIS)

Follow Russ Read on Twitter

Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org

All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.