James Forsyth James Forsyth

The Commons is finally talking about Iraq. Will anyone notice?

PMQs last week took place just hours after Mosul had fallen to ISIS. But despite this, not a single MP asked Cameron what the government’s position on the situation in Iraq was.

Today, though, Ed Miliband devoted all six questions to the topic. There was much consensus between Cameron and Miliband but one doubts that the governments in either Baghdad or Tehran will take much notice of what was said in the Chamber. Indeed, the Commons seemed oddly passive about the exchanges as if everyone was aware of the limits to Britain’s ability to influence the situation.

One thing that remains striking is Cameron’s conviction that a terrorist enclave in Iraq would be a direct threat to Britain.

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