Last week’s debate on military action in Syria against ISIS was fundamentally about freedom. It was about our right to live our lives free from fear, free from oppression, and free to be who we are.
Those who attack our cherished British values of freedom and democracy, and who seek to impose their alien oppressive, regime, must be opposed. These oppressors are well resourced and well organised. They have no sense of humanity. They lack empathy or any moral code. They hate us for who we are. They seek only to further their own objectives, impose their own distorted views and to destroy our freedoms.
It is any MPs duty to listen to residents, to consider what the experts say, and then decide what is right. I believe all my parliamentary colleagues, on all sides did just that. They did what they believed to be right and they stayed true to themselves.
In many places, as in Telford, the way the MP voted in this debate provoked anger and controversy. MPs have been threatened and intimidated. I understand that people have strong views on this issue. In a free society we can express our views. We must also always respect opposing views: that’s democracy. Bullying and intimidation of elected representatives has no place in our democracy.
Whichever way I voted it would not have made me popular. That is irrelevant. What matters is that MPs are true to themselves and take their decisions in good conscience. I did just that.
I believe we are fighting a noble cause to protect our way of life. The battle will not be short or simple. Fundamental freedoms are worth fighting for.
We must never abandon our values, in the face of fear or threat. If we know in our hearts what we are doing is right, we should be proud to stand up and be counted, whatever the cost. It’s never enough to wish for peace, and hope someone else will deliver it for us. We must be brave enough and strong enough to speak up for what we believe to be right.
As Churchill said “there is no peace till victory, no pact with unrepentant wrong.”
I will always be the champion of our right to be who we are, to live our lives how we chose, without fear or threat. That is freedom.