A Wiltshire MP has spoken out in the House of Commons over the USA's airstrikes on Iran.
Andrew Murrison has been the Conservative MP for South West Wiltshire for over two decades after being first elected in 2001 when the constituency was still known as Westbury.
On Monday, July 7, Mr Murrison stood up in the House of Commons to question the Foreign Office minister Hamish Falconer's stance on the US airstrikes on Iran, and the threat this poses.
It followed Operation Midnight Hammer last month, an air raid when US defence forces attacked Iranian nuclear sites near Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan.
The Wiltshire MP made reference to comments made by Defence Secretary John Healey on X (formerly Twitter), in which the cabinet minister said: "The US has taken action to alleviate the grave threat that Iran poses to global security."
Murrison then told the Commons: “The Defence Secretary correctly has said that Operation Midnight Hammer has alleviated a grave threat, but the Attorney General appears to be less clear and wonders if it was illegal, whilst the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary appear to sit on the fence.
“Sorry to put the minister on the spot – does he agree with the Attorney General or with the Defence Secretary?”
Mr Falconer replied: “The Defence Secretary and the Attorney General are doing rather different roles, and I don’t think they’re in disagreement – and in any case, collective responsibility would bind them both and indeed me.”
The South Wiltshire MP, representing Trowbridge, Westbury, Mere and Tisbury, wasn't the only one to question the UK Government's stance on the airstrikes.
Dame Priti Patel, who is the Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, has urged ministers to “come off the fence” over whether US air strikes on Iran “were absolutely necessary” earlier this summer.
Mr Falconer told her: “I won’t provide, I’m afraid, a detailed commentary from the despatch box on the extent of damage from the strikes, for reasons that I’m sure [Dame Priti] and the rest of the House will understand.
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“I can confirm we are in discussions about the snapback mechanisms. As the Prime Minister has said, as the Foreign Secretary has said, as I have said, we cannot see Iran get a nuclear weapon – snapback is an important lever.
“We’re talking with our E3 partners and indeed the Americans about what role snapback can play.
“We hope to see a diplomatic solution. That is ultimately the most enduring way to ensure that Iran does not get a nuclear weapon, but we will continue to consider all diplomatic tools including snapback.”
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