@KateEMcCann: As Benn sat down following speech he plonked himself down on top of Corbyn, who was forced to shift over sharpish, face like furious thunder
@DPJHodges: Hilary Benn doesn't just look like the leader of the opposition at the moment. He looks like the prime minister.
Can't help but agree with that. That was Churchillian.
And he turned around and personally addressed the Labour benches himself, appealing to them to support their sister socialist party, as if he really *was* the leader.
@jessphillips: Hilary Benn, made me proud to be Labour Tonight. He was amazing. If he was the foreign secretary I know he would have a plan I could trust
@DPJHodges: Hilary Benn doesn't just look like the leader of the opposition at the moment. He looks like the prime minister.
Can't help but agree with that. That was Churchillian.
And he turned around and personally addressed the Labour benches himself, appealing to them to support their sister socialist party, as if he really *was* the leader.
Simply astonishing.
The last couple of minutes when he addressed his own party made my hair stand on end
@paulwaugh: In my 18 years of covering Parliament, I've seen few speeches as impressive as Hilary Benn's - + never seen a crossparty reaction like that
@KateEMcCann: As Benn sat down following speech he plonked himself down on top of Corbyn, who was forced to shift over sharpish, face like furious thunder
Hammond on the other hand is showing why he will never be leader, he started with a partisan dig and is undoing the good work of Hilary Benn the longer he goes on.
@DPJHodges: Hilary Benn doesn't just look like the leader of the opposition at the moment. He looks like the prime minister.
Can't help but agree with that. That was Churchillian.
And he turned around and personally addressed the Labour benches himself, appealing to them to support their sister socialist party, as if he really *was* the leader.
Simply astonishing.
The last couple of minutes when he addressed his own party made my hair stand on end
It was exceptional. He's obviously been preparing for this moment.
Hammond on the other hand is showing why he will never be leader, he started with a partisan dig and is undoing the good work of Hilary Benn the longer he goes on.
Hammond on the other hand is showing why he will never be leader, he started with a partisan dig and is undoing the good work of Hilary Benn the longer he goes on.
He should have just congratulated Benn on a very good speech, pointed out that he had nothing more to add and then sat back down.
Hammond on the other hand is showing why he will never be leader, he started with a partisan dig and is undoing the good work of Hilary Benn the longer he goes on.
Yes. He should shut up.
What Hammond should have said is
"Hilary Benn made an unarguable case for intervention, and I have nothing further to add to that"
Hammond on the other hand is showing why he will never be leader, he started with a partisan dig and is undoing the good work of Hilary Benn the longer he goes on.
Sorry - what was the partisan dig? seemed to have missed the start of Hammond's speech.
Hammond on the other hand is showing why he will never be leader, he started with a partisan dig and is undoing the good work of Hilary Benn the longer he goes on.
@paulwaugh: In my 18 years of covering Parliament, I've seen few speeches as impressive as Hilary Benn's - + never seen a crossparty reaction like that
Feck, recording 2 progs on skybox and missed it. From the cross party comments on here sounds very impressive.
Hammond on the other hand is showing why he will never be leader, he started with a partisan dig and is undoing the good work of Hilary Benn the longer he goes on.
Yes. He should shut up.
What Hammond should have said is
"Hilary Benn made an unarguable case for intervention, and I have nothing further to add to that"
He should certainly have thought on his feet and cut the partisan point from his speech.
@paulwaugh: In my 18 years of covering Parliament, I've seen few speeches as impressive as Hilary Benn's - + never seen a crossparty reaction like that
Feck, recording 2 progs on skybox and missed it. From the cross party comments on here sounds very impressive.
@paulwaugh: In my 18 years of covering Parliament, I've seen few speeches as impressive as Hilary Benn's - + never seen a crossparty reaction like that
Feck, recording 2 progs on skybox and missed it. From the cross party comments on here sounds very impressive.
@paulwaugh: In my 18 years of covering Parliament, I've seen few speeches as impressive as Hilary Benn's - + never seen a crossparty reaction like that
Feck, recording 2 progs on skybox and missed it. From the cross party comments on here sounds very impressive.
Be sure to check it on iplayer, or the parliament website!
Hammond on the other hand is showing why he will never be leader, he started with a partisan dig and is undoing the good work of Hilary Benn the longer he goes on.
Yes. He should shut up.
What Hammond should have said is
"Hilary Benn made an unarguable case for intervention, and I have nothing further to add to that"
Oh, but Philip has. So so much.
This reminds me of airplane where Ted Striker leads passenger after passenger to attempt taking their own life after regaling them with his past love life.
Paul Waugh @paulwaugh 1m1 minute ago This makes it even more impressive: there's no text of Hilary Benn's speech - because he wrote most of it on the frontbench.
A few weeks ago I said that an inspirational candidate of the soft left could beat Corbyn in a leadership election. I doubted whether Benn had the necessary star quality. Tonight he proved me wrong. He will lead Labour by next autumn, if he wants it.
@AdamBienkov: Andy Burnham tells BBC he won't vote for Syrian air strikes today but may change his mind in the future. I give him a few minutes #syriavote
Didn't he say he would vote for it if there was a UN resolution?
A few weeks ago I said that an inspirational candidate of the soft left could beat Corbyn in a leadership election. I doubted whether Benn had the necessary star quality. Tonight he proved me wrong. He will lead Labour by next autumn, if he wants it.
Tom Watson won't be a happy bunny. He wants the Precious for himself....
@KateEMcCann: Andy Burnham first to make a beeline for Benn to congratulate him (even though they don't agree) many Labour MPs patting Benn on the back
Does Burnham vote No to please his current leader, or yes to please his next?
@KateEMcCann: Andy Burnham first to make a beeline for Benn to congratulate him (even though they don't agree) many Labour MPs patting Benn on the back
Does Burnham vote No to please his current leader, or yes to please his next?
His brain is probably going to overheat trying to work out what the best move for him is.
I'm convinced that Hilary Benn is a Conservative MP, sent undercover into Labour to take them over from the inside. I mean, has he ever been seen in the same room as Jacob Rees-Mogg?
Alan Johnson, Dan Jarvis, Pat McFadden, Margaret Beckett, Hillary Benn, my word Hillary Benn, and others - you did the Labour party proud today. You'll get nothing but abuse for it, but you spoke for the history of the party and you spoke for the only way that could ever possibly secure its future. If that's the final, dying cry of defiance before NickP and co destroy it all, that's some way to go. I am proud of you all and sad for what is to come.
@christopherhope: I am at the entrance to the Members' Lobby. One Tory MP tells me as many as 15 Labour MP waverers were swayed by Hilary Benn's speech.
If the govt wins, hope the pro- side have the good sense not to cheer. Can't think of anything more inappropriate.
The anti war side cheering 14 months ago?
A fair point, but not quite as bad in my view. If the govt wins British armed forces will kill people as a direct result. No matter how necessary that might be, it shouldn't be cheered.
Alan Johnson, Dan Jarvis, Pat McFadden, Margaret Beckett, Hillary Benn, my word Hillary Benn, and others - you did the Labour party proud today. You'll get nothing but abuse for it, but you spoke for the history of the party and you spoke for the only way that could ever possibly secure its future. If that's the final, dying cry of defiance before NickP and co destroy it all, that's some way to go. I am proud of you all and sad for what is to come.
I hope this doesn't get your hopes up, but Benn's speech was the sort of speech that topples leaders.
@christopherhope: I am at the entrance to the Members' Lobby. One Tory MP tells me as many as 15 Labour MP waverers were swayed by Hilary Benn's speech.
It was a fantastic speech, but surely MPs should have the ability to form rational, coherent opinions and have enough courage in their convictions to not turn 180% at the last minute.
Alan Johnson, Dan Jarvis, Pat McFadden, Margaret Beckett, Hillary Benn, my word Hillary Benn, and others - you did the Labour party proud today. You'll get nothing but abuse for it, but you spoke for the history of the party and you spoke for the only way that could ever possibly secure its future. If that's the final, dying cry of defiance before NickP and co destroy it all, that's some way to go. I am proud of you all and sad for what is to come.
I hope this doesn't get your hopes up, but Benn's speech was the sort of speech that topples leaders.
In any normal party, yes. But how do you remove the leader of the Labour Party?
Alan Johnson, Dan Jarvis, Pat McFadden, Margaret Beckett, Hillary Benn, my word Hillary Benn, and others - you did the Labour party proud today. You'll get nothing but abuse for it, but you spoke for the history of the party and you spoke for the only way that could ever possibly secure its future. If that's the final, dying cry of defiance before NickP and co destroy it all, that's some way to go. I am proud of you all and sad for what is to come.
I hope this doesn't get your hopes up, but Benn's speech was the sort of speech that topples leaders.
In any normal party, yes. But how do you remove the leader of the Labour Party?
I know, but you now know who the anti-Corbynite movement will rally behind.
Comments
And he turned around and personally addressed the Labour benches himself, appealing to them to support their sister socialist party, as if he really *was* the leader.
Simply astonishing.
@ayestotheright: .@hilarybenn just demolished Corbyn's claims to be "true" Labour
Hilary Benn should be de-selected. Tory in disguise. Entire Tory bench claps his speech. Disgusting excuse of a man.
Well that didn't take long...
@AngusMacNeilSNP: Tonight we saw Labour being applauded by the Tories in the #Commons on #SyriaVote
That won't be an accident.
@ArtyBagger: Blimey. Hammond following that speech by Hilary Benn is like Peter Andre coming on after Prince.
"Hilary Benn made an unarguable case for intervention, and I have nothing further to add to that"
Sit down.
https://twitter.com/Lauren_Crowley/status/672132696760545280
Abbot is an awesome weapon for the Tories.
Labour, please don't fluff this.
http://blogs.new.spectator.co.uk/2015/12/audio-coverage-of-the-syria-airstrikes-debate-in-the-house-of-commons/
http://parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/4e6d04ee-df49-4789-a54a-42f2c7be53b2
This reminds me of airplane where Ted Striker leads passenger after passenger to attempt taking their own life after regaling them with his past love life.
This makes it even more impressive: there's no text of Hilary Benn's speech - because he wrote most of it on the frontbench.
Which says something since May is not exactly the Lady Gaga Of Politics herself.
Last price matched: 3!!!!!!
Not mine though.
First up, the amendment.
The amendment is against the government position, right?
Does Burnham vote No to please his current leader, or yes to please his next?
No - you got that with Corbyn. Posh Hampstead whigs are not real Labour.
He'll either be leader or on the back-benches within the week.
For the sake of Britain, I'd like it to be the former.
Frustratingly, someone hovered up the 50/1 on the next PM market a few seconds before I got the chance.
It was very good. Took all the key points, made the logical arguments unarguable to a reasonable person, with just the right level of passion/emotion.
I'm not sure he is massively happy about that...
That's an important step