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Frankie Boyle joined Brian Eno, Tariq Ali, Caroline Lucas MP, and many more, who wrote to David Cameron opposing UK bombing of Syria.
Frankie Boyle has joined musicians, writers, union chiefs and politicians telling David Cameron not to bomb Syria as thousands of protesters prepare to march on Westminster.
The outspoken comic is one of 23 people who signed a letter begging the Prime Minister to block air strikes tonight after he warned Britain is under ‘armed attack’.
Others include former Roxy Music star Brian Eno, Green MP Caroline Lucas, writer John Pilger and comedian Jeremy Hardy.
Their missive to Number 10 condemns the ‘rush to bomb’ and says wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya have caused ‘large scale casualties, devastating destruction and huge flows of refugees’.
And it declares: “Far from tackling terrorism, the last fourteen years of war have seen massively increased Jihadi terrorist organisation around the world.”
The letter was organised by the Stop the War Coalition, which organised a mass march on Westminster against bombing ISIS in Syria on Saturday 28th December.
Jeremy Corbyn wrote to Labour MPs saying he will not be able to back the PM’s seven-point plan for military action.
His move threw the party into turmoil, with several MPs poised to vote against their own leader when the shadow cabinet decides Labour’s official policy on Monday.
He wrote: “I do not believe that the PM today made a convincing case that extending UK bombing to Syria would meet that crucial test. Nor did it satisfactorily answer the questions raised by us and the Foreign Affairs Committee.
“In particular, the PM did not set out a coherent strategy, coordinated through the UN for the defeat of ISIS.”
The letter in full
Dear Prime Minister,
The current rush to bomb Syria following the terrible events in Paris risks a dangerous escalation which will inflame the war there and increase bitterness against the West. The US has been bombing Isis for a year and admits that Isis is as strong as ever and has continued recruiting.
The experience of the wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya shows that Western military interventions lead to large scale casualties, devastating destruction and huge flows of refugees.
Far from tackling terrorism, the last fourteen years of war have seen massively increased Jihadi terrorist organisation around the world.
Rather than ignoring this recent history by joining the long list of countries that have bombed Syria in the last year, we urge the government to stop arming reactionary and aggressive regimes like Saudi Arabia and Qatar that sponsor terrorist groups and look for political solutions as the only viable way to end the conflict.
Yours,
Mark Rylance Actor
Brian Eno Musician
Mairead Maguire Nobel Peace laureate
Hans von Sponeck Former UN Assistant Secretary-General
Frankie Boyle Comedian
Will Self Writer
Ken Loach Filmmaker
John Pilger Journalist
Owen Jones Journalist
Caryl Churchill Playwright
Francesca Martinez Comedian
Jeremy Hardy Comedian
Caroline Lucas MP Green Party
Tommy Sheppard MP SNP
Arthur Smith Comedian
Miriam Margolyes Actor
John Hilary Executive Director of War on Want
Michael Rosen Writer
Mark Serwotka PCS General Secretary
Tariq Ali Writer
David Gentleman Artist
Prof John Kinsella Poet
Prof Diane Reay University of Cambridge
Prof Richard Wilkinson University of Nottingham
Victoria Brittain Journalist
Manuel Cortes TSSA General Secretary
Christine Shawcroft Labour NEC
Prof Ray Bush University of Leeds
Prof Christopher Cramer SOAS
Prof George Irvin SOAS
Andrew Murray Chair of Stop the War Coalition
Lindsey German Convenor of Stop the War Coalition
Kate Hudson CND General Secretary
Logic Musician
Prof Susan Newman University of the West of England
Prof Gurminder Bhambra University of Warwick
Prof Ozlem Onaran University of Greenwich
Prof Prem Sikka University of Essex
Jean Urquhart MSP Independent
Elaine Smith MSP Labour
Source: The Mirror
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Stone Roses frontman Ian Brown signs Don’t Bomb Syria petition in Lymm, Cheshire.
Stop the War, a group campaigning against UK Government war policies and air strikes in Syria, tweeted a picture of the Lymm resident signing the document at a street stall in the area.
‘Illegal Attacks’ by Ian Brown
ft Sinead O’Connor
Polydor 2007
http://stopwar.org.uk/index.php/music3/ian-brown-illegal-attacks
Lyrics
So what the fuck is this UK
Gunnin with this US of A
In Iraq and Iran and in Afghanistan
Does not a day go by
Without the Israeli Air Force
Fail to drop its bombs from the sky?
How many mothers to cry?
How many sons have to die?
How many missions left to fly over Palestine?
Cause as a matter of facts
Its a pact, its an act
These are illegal attacks
So bring the soldiers back
These are illegal attacks
Its contracts for contacts
Im singing concrete facts
So bring the soldiers back
What mean ya that you beat my people
What mean ya that you beat my people
And grind the faces of the poor
So tell me just how come were the Taliban
Sat burning incense in Texas
Roaming round in a Lexus
Sittin on six billion oil drums
Down with the Dow Jones, up on the Nasdaq
Pushed into the war zones
Its a commercial crusade
Cause all the oil men get paid
And only so many soldiers come home
Its a commando crusade
A military charade
And only so many soldiers come home
Soldiers, soldiers come home
Soldiers come home
Through all the blood and sweat
Nobody can forget
It aint the size of the dog in the fight
Its the size of the fight in the dog on the day or the night
Theres no time to reflect
On the threat, the situation, the bark nor the bite
These are commercial crusades
Cos all the oil men get paid
These are commando crusades
Commando tactical rape
And from the streets of New York and Baghdad to Tehran and Tel Aviv
Bring forth the prophets of the Lord
From dirty bastards fillin pockets
With the profits of greed
These are commercial crusades
Commando tactical raids
Playin military charades to get paid
And who got the devils?
And who got the Lords?
Build yourself a mountain Drink up in the fountain
Soldiers come home
What mean ya that you beat my people
What mean ya that you beat my people
And grind the faces of the poor
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Stop The War: Music Against War
http://stopwar.org.uk/index.php/music3