| Short Title: | Armed Forces (Parliamentary Approval for Participation in Armed Conflict) Bill |
| Legislature: | Parliament of the United Kingdom |
| Long Title: | A bill to require parliamentary approval for the participation of Her Majesty’s armed forces in armed conflict and for a declaration of war; and for connected purposes. |
| Citation: | Bill 16 of 2005–06 |
| Considered By: | House of Commons |
| Territorial Extent: | United Kingdom |
| Introduced By: | Clare Short |
| 1St Reading: | 22 June 2005 |
| 2Nd Reading: | 21 November 2005 (failed)[1] |
| Status: | not passed |
Armed Forces (Parliamentary Approval for Participation in Armed Conflict) Bill was a bill of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It attempted to limit the royal prerogative of declaring war by providing that only Parliament declare war or, except in certain emergencies, could sanction the United Kingdom's participation in armed conflicts.
Clare Short presented the bill to Parliament on 22 June 2005, supported by senior politicians from all three major parties including William Hague, Ken Clarke, Ming Campbell and Alex Salmond, and received its first reading.[2] After publication, it received its second reading on 21 October 2005. It failed to pass the second reading, and move on to committee stage, because it was talked-out (discussed until there was no time left). A vote was cast but only 91 aye votes were cast and 12 no votes. A minimum of 100 aye votes are required for it to succeed.[3]
It was argued by David Burrowes during the debate of the second reading that the bill was a "Trojan horse for voicing disapproval about going to war in Iraq".
Making his first speech to the House of Commons as Prime Minister, Gordon Brown proposed reforms which would have delivered the heart of this Bill. However no further action occurred.[4]
In Parliament, a bill is divided into clauses. Clauses are further divided into sections. This bill drafted 11 clauses: clauses 1-3 defined prior approval, clauses 4-6 defined retrospective approval, clause 7 defined a declaration of war, and clauses 8-11 contained miscellaneous provisions.
If the Prime Minister proposes that the British Armed Forces participate in an armed conflict, both Houses of Parliament must give permission otherwise it is unlawful. There are two exceptions under clause 4 and 6.
If the Prime Minister wishes to send the British Armed Forces into armed conflict, he must lay a report before both Houses of Parliament detailing:
Each House of Parliament shall agree by approving the report. The Prime Minister must bring the motion in the House of Commons.
This clause would apply if the British Armed Forces were in armed conflict before the bill was assented or where the Prime Minister decides to act as a matter of urgency and a report cannot be made in time.If the Prime Minister acts as a matter of urgency and Parliament is prorogued (not in session) for at least five days, then the Speaker of the House of Commons and the Lord Chancellor (now the Lord Speaker) shall meet within that five days.The Prime Minister will lay a report before both Houses as soon as is practicable.
Both Houses will vote on the report as soon as is practicable.
If either House of Parliament cannot decide within ten days or does not approve the report after ten days, then the Prime Minister has thirty days to withdraw the British Armed Forces or as long as it takes to remove them.
Only Parliament can declare war.
Nothing in this act would stop a member of the British Armed Forces from following a lawful command or following established rules of engagement in order to take immediate defence.
If the Prime Minister cannot act, the Secretary of State can act in his stead.
This clause sets interpretations.
This clause defines the short title and the commencement date is enacted.