Cameron's Commons return: Syria, Woolwich and tax

The PM arrived at the Commons yesterday afternoon looking tanned. Several times he adjusted the knot of his tie, perhaps unused to the feel of it after his time away on holiday.

The House was to be updated on three subjects. These were, first, progress in discussions with the European Commission on the subject of tax evasion, second the deteriorating situation in Syria and the decision recently taken by the EU to lift the arms embargo the Syrian National Opposition, and third to give an update on the investigation into the recent murder in Woolwich of Lee Rigby. Syria was to dominate proceedings.

On tax evasion, Cameron said that the free exchange of tax information between jurisdictions was now a "headline priority," for Britain's forthcoming chairmanship of the G8. This information exchange had been agreed among members states of the EU: the sharing of company tax details would be the default position among European states.

On Syria, the Prime Minister said that unless the government did more to support the opposition, then extremism would flourish and Assad would continue to massacre his own people. The Syrian National Coalition has been recognised by the British government, said the PM. There would be clear safeguards to ensure that any arms that were supplied by EU states to the Opposition would be used only for the purpose of safeguarding civilians.

On the matter of the Woolwich killing, the Prime Minister briefly outlined the ten arrests to have taken place so far in connection with the enquiry into the murder of Lee Rigby—eight men and two women—along with a promise that the Intelligence Select Committee, chaired by Malcolm Rifkind, would run an investigation into the security implications of the event, reporting at the year's end.

"We have to ask some tough questions," about the circumstances surrounding the killing, said the PM, and the elements of British society that create people willing to carry out such brutal acts. The PM's new task force into radicalisation, which met for the first time yesterday morning, will examine the vexed question of how extremists are produced, with particular attention to the radicalising effects of universities, the roles of charities that are fronts for other activities and also to offer advice to mosques, in the hope that they might recruit "imams who understand Britain."

The leader of the opposition, Ed Miliband then rose, to ask the PM whether his plans to reform EU and global tax policies would include addressing the question of corporate tax structures. Some of these, he said, allow firms to place their profits offshore and hence beyond the reach of the taxman. The Leader of the Opposition also wondered whether, if there were not an international consensus on tax reform, would the government be prepared to act alone when it comes to reform.

Miliband also questioned why the PM had not mentioned the forthcoming Syria peace conference, scheduled to take place shortly in Geneva. He warned that lifting the embargo on the EU's supply of arms to Syria would lead to escalation of violence and cited Russia's involvement in supplying arms to the Assad regime as evidence. Furthermore if the EU were to supply arms to Syria, how could it ensure that materiel did not fall into the wrong hands?

On the corporate tax question, the Prime Minister conceded that if there were not sufficient coordinated international action that he did not rule out the possibility of Britain taking action "over and above," that of other states. Concerning Miliband's comments on Syria, Cameron said that the two of them had "an honest disagreement," over the best course of action—an interesting phrase. He observed that Russia had been arming Assad long before the EU had started discussing the possibility of arming the opposition. Arguments against sending arms, he said, reminded him of the reasons given for not intervening in Bosnia—a tough, rather powerful point.

Peter Tapsell (Cons, Louth and Horncastle) rose, and suggested to the PM that "this is fundamentally a religious war," between Shia and Sunni elements of Syrian society. Furthermore, the Russians would never let Syria’s government fall because it would be too much of a personal loss for Vladimir Putin, who made his reputation by putting down a Sunni rebellion in Chechnya.

Jack Straw (Lab, Blackburn) also spoke, asking the PM whether the Iranians were any closer to becoming involved in a Syria peace process. Cameron replied that the Iranian regime was currently aiding the massacre of Syrian citizens, and the most important thing is for Syrians to have a government in which they could believe.

John Baron (Cons, Basildon and Billericay) raised the question of whether, if there were a decision to supply arms to Syria, the House would be given a vote on the matter. The PM replied by saying that Britain had already recognised the Syrian Opposition, a group that was given over to "human rights," and "democracy."

Gisela Stuart (Lab, Birmingham Edgbaston) asked whether there were any extremists in the Syrian National Opposition. While conceding that there were some extremist elements within the Syrian opposition forces overall, the PM ensured the House that the British government would do everything possible to ensure that weapons were channelled to the elements of the opposition that championed human rights and freedom.

It did not appear that the House was as convinced on the viability of this last, crucial point as was the Prime Minister.