Peter MacMahon's Politics Blog: 'On basis of what we've heard' SNP will vote against bombing Syria

In the wake of the terrorist attacks in Paris the Scottish National Party leader Nicola Sturgeon last week said her party was "prepared to listen" to the case for air strikes against the so-called Islamic State.

Today her predecessor and foreign affairs spokesperson, Alex Salmond, has declared the party has listened to the case and is set to vote against "adding to the bombing campaign in Syria".

Mr Salmond's intervention is significant because he was one of the opposition leaders given a confidential briefing by the UK's most senior military and intelligence figures last night.

As a Privy Councillor Mr Salmond and the party's Westminster leader, Angus Robertson, were in Downing Street to hear an assessment of the threat posed by Isil from the Chiefs of the Defence Staff and senior officers from MI5 and MI6.

The former SNP leader, who is now both an MP and MSP, was not in the House of Commons today for David Cameron's statement on Syria.

But he told me that that the Prime Minister had put forward his case in a "measured way" and compared Mr Cameron's approach favourably to the way Tony Blair made the case for war in Iraq.

But Mr Salmond said even the Prime Minister's statement to MPs combined with the intelligence briefings he had received - but which he cannot divulge in public - had not convinced him or his party to back action.

In an interview for tonight's Representing Border, Mr Salmond told me: "To be fair to the Prime Minister, he put forward his case in a measured way today. There wasn't any of the bluster and flamboyance Tony Blair used to sweep people into a war in Iraq.

"But despite that measured approach that he took he hasn't convinced the SNP, he hasn't convinced some on his own backbenches, and I think a great number of other parties as well.

"Because he hasn't answered the key question. One, what the UK participation is going to add to the bombing campaign that is taking place already and secondly how it's going to contribute to bringing about peace in Syria."

I put it to Mr Salmond that when it came to the vote in the Commons, it sounded like he and his party would be voting against military action in Syria.

He told me: "If we were taking a decision on what we have heard last night and today and over the last few days then we would be voting against the UK adding to the bombing campaign in Syria."

I pressed him on when the matter does come to the Commons? A vote is expected within the next few weeks, when the UK government is sure it will win a substantial majority.

Mr Salmond replied: "I'll be speaking in the debate, whether it is next week or the week after. I'll be making these points. You always have to listen to a debate when the debate takes place. On the basis of what we have heard thus far, we'll be voting against."

The former SNP leader, who was in Edinburgh to attend the Scottish parliament and unveil a new portrait of himself this lunchtime, expanded on his views on the PM's statement.

He said: "There was nothing in his statement which answered the key question is what the UK participation, in addition to the 12 other countries already bombing in Syria - because Syria is not short of countries bombing it - is going to add to the campaign.

"And secondly, how does it aid and assist in bringing about the peace settlement in Syria which is essential if we're going to tackle terrorism and also tackle the refugee crisis which is threatening Europe and far beyond."

The SNP has said that its view up to now had mirrored that of the Commons Foreign Affairs committee which has been sceptical about action and said bombings would have a "marginal effect".

Yet today the chair of that committee, Tory MP Crispin Blunt, backed the Prime Minister's plan, though he stressed he was speaking in a personal capacity.

I put that to Mr Salmond. He replied: "Well, Crispin also made it clear that was a personal opinion. The committee hasn't met to discuss their reaction to the Prime Minister's statement.

"I think it is very important to remember that cross-party committee unanimously said that the additional of bombing campaign was a diversion from a strategy as opposed to a strategy itself."

The former First Minister said that there were also other Tory MPs who were "still not convinced by the Prime Minister's argument".

I put it to Mr Salmond that his critics might say he should have been in the Commons for the statement by the Prime Minister, not unveiling a portrait of himself.

He replied: "I was in Downing Street last night getting a security briefing, which I accept my critics didn't have the opportunity to get so I heard what was said by the Combined Chiefs and by the Intelligence Services.

"The Prime Minister was making a statement today and Angus Robertson, as leader of the party, replied to it. If it had been the Foreign Secretary I've have been there to reply to it. I was in the Scottish parliament when the statement was on doing my job there."

The former First Minister added: "I had nothing to add to the statement today but I'll have plenty to add to the debate next week or the week after, so my opponents will have to just wait and see.

"Another thing I would say. This is an issue about peace and war, this is about life and death so I hope my opponents should perhaps rise to that level of debate as the SNP is doing and focus on how they can bring peace to Syria, not on political tittle-tattle."