Theresa May’s policy on Syria is ‘prolonging suffering’, cross-party group including former ambassadors says

Exclusive: Global Network for Syria accuses government of funding ‘so-called moderate armed opposition forces’ the ‘vast majority’ of whom they claim are ‘dominated by Jihadist militants’

A man carries a child rescued from rubble after Syrian regime and Russian air strikes in the rebel-held town of Nawa, about 30 kilometres north of Daraa in southern Syria, on 26 June 2018 (AFP/Getty)

Theresa May’s foreign policy on Syria is “prolonging suffering” and is ensuring stabilisation “remains a distant possibility”, a cross-party group including two former British ambassadors to Syria has said.

The Global Network for Syria, which includes peers from the Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats and also independents, has written to Ms May demanding a change in the government’s policy.

The group has accused the government of funding “so-called moderate armed opposition forces” the “vast majority” of whom they claim are “dominated by Jihadist militants”.

“We greatly fear the continuation of these policies will not contribute to the stabilisation of Syria, as has been claimed,” the letter, exclusively seen by The Independent, says.

“But will ensure that stabilisation and reunification under a unitary authority remain a distant possibility, prolonging the suffering of the Syrian people and weakening the stability of the Middle East as a whole.”

The letter, which is signed by two former ambassadors to Syria, Lord Green of Deddington and Peter Ford, calls on the government to lift sanctions, work for diplomatic solutions and allow the Syrian people to determine their own future, which, signatories have told The Independent, should include allowing President Bashar al-Assad to remain in power.

The president has overseen a civil war – that began as a civil uprising against his rule – which has killed half a million people since it broke out in 2011, and seen at least half the population displaced.

Mr Ford, who served in Damascus from 2003 to 2006, said the letter was looking to draw attention to current policies that he says have not worked.

“The letter looks to draw attention to the risk of a new conflict, the pointlessness of continuing to apply sanctions to Syria when they haven’t worked.

“…All sanctions are doing is damaging the Syrian people while doing nothing to hurt the Syrian government,” Mr Ford said.

The former ambassador added that he believed removing President Bashar al-Assad from power will create further chaos.

“Given the situation as it is at the moment, anyone who wishes to see the toppling of the Syrian president is not a well-wisher of the Syrian people,” he said.

“Toppling Assad will create a void and open the gates for a re-emergence of the worst bigotry, extremism and the re-emergence of Isis.”

It was previously revealed that Mr Ford had volunteered for a lobby group run by Mr Assad’s father in law. The controversial British Syrian Society has in the past been accused of being the country’s mouthpiece in the West.

“The British Syrian Society has had no activity in this country for several years. It has in the past facilitated trips by MPs from all parties to visit Syria, to get to know the country better,” Mr Ford said.

One of the other signatories, Baroness Cox, said she was “deeply concerned” by the government’s commitment to impose regime change.

“The people of Syria fear that as there is no moderate armed opposition this will lead to another disaster similar to Iraq and Libya,” she said.

“We urge the UK government to allow the people of Syria to decide their own future.”

Alongside Baroness Cox, another signatory, Lord Carey of Clifton, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, prompted outrage and criticism from MPs after they both visited Syria in 2017.

The delegation met with leaders from a number of religious groups and state officials.

John Woodcock MP criticised the visit and suggested it could be used for propaganda purposes by the Assad regime.

Lord Hylton, who also signed the letter, has repeatedly called on the government to re-establish diplomatic relations with the Assad regime.

The 84-year-old hereditary peer visited the country in 2016 and 2017 and said the Syrian leader had “the support or the acquiescence of most Syrians”.

The Independent has contacted Downing Street for a comment.