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  1. World
  2. Middle East
28 August 2013updated 27 Sep 2015 5:33am

Labour, Tory and Lib Dem voters all oppose strikes against Syria

The public opposes military action by 50 to 25%, with Labour supporters the most hostile of the three main parties.

By George Eaton

In planning for British military action against Syria, one thing David Cameron cannot be accused of is courting votes. YouGov’s poll for today’s Sun shows that the public oppose missile strikes by two to one (50-25%), with all three of the main parties’ supporters against intervention. Labour voters are the most hostile to military action, with 54% opposed and 26% in favour, followed by Lib Dem ones (47-27%). Tory supporters are opposed to intervention by 45-33%. 

Supporters of UKIP, which is currently polling at 12% (the Lib Dems are on 8%), are opposed to strikes by 68-22%. The party has declared its opposition to intervention, warning that “Moral outrage has never been a good basis for war. Even if attacks carried out lead to the fall of Bashar al-Assad as the Coalition and Labour seem to be hoping for,what follows? We know that the rebels contain extremists who support radical Islam and are steadfast in their opposition to the values we hold dear in this country. For them to topple Assad and take power would be disastrous.”

Of the other parties, the Greens and Plaid Cymru are also against military action, with the SNP currently undecided. 

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