Local campaigners from national democracy campaign group Charter88 have thanked Hornsey & Wood Green MP Lynne Featherstone for signing a parliamentary motion calling for a law that would require Parliament’s approval for the use of the country’s armed forces, by making the Government obtain Parliament’s authority to go to war.

The Prime Minister can currently go to war without the House of Commons’s support by using the Royal Prerogative. Britain contrasts with other developed democracies such as the US in that its Parliament does not have a formal say in the use of armed forces. Surveys have shown that the vast majority of people feel this must change.

A Private Members’ Bill is currently going through parliament to make this law, promoted by the Rt Hon Clare Short MP and backed by a cross-party team of Rt Hon Kenneth Clarke MP, The Rt Hon William Hague MP, the Rt Hon Sir Menzies Campbell MP, but the Government has not yet declared its support.

Charter88 Local Group co-ordinator Ron Bailey said:

“It’s great that Ms Featherstone takes this issue seriously.

“The next stage for the Bill is its second reading on Friday 11th October, and we hope that she’ll be in Parliament on the day to stand up for the rights of Parliament and democracy.

Lib Dem MP Lynne Featherstone said:

“The Royal Prerogative is a relic of the past: in a Parliamentary democracy , such as ours, Parliament must have the legal right to sanction the use of armed force by this country.There is no decision more important: it is truly a matter for Parliament and I will do all I can as your local MP to ensure that this Bill becomes law.”