There is no doubt that the highlight of yesterday’s long debate in the Commons was Hilary Benn’s speech. As perorations go it was perhaps the most remarkable for a generation for two reasons. First because it was a great script delivered with power fluency and emotion and second because it was against the views of the majority in his party, both in parliament and in the country. It was also a humiliation of his leader. I cannot other recall any speech being greeted by such an unparliamentary ovation.
But whilst I admire the man and his delivery, I cannot abide his conclusion. If IS is all he said it was and it is, why is he doing its bidding? Because IS has a strategy. The tactics are to kill innocent members of the public in the West by terrorist acts, but the purpose is not just to kill. It is to provoke. That is the goal. Because they know that the one thing which grows their strength and fills their coffers is revenge attacks by the West, especially bombing, because of the collateral to civilians.
So while there is no doubt that the Benn speech will be remembered long after the debate is forgotten, it is a pity that such talent and sincerity was not employed in a more enlightened cause.