More than 200 opposition MPs and backbench Tories, including Emily Thornberry and Michael Gove, are supporting a campaign for airdrops of aid into Syria, meaning there would be a majority in parliament for the humanitarian plan if the government were to give its support.
The campaign, organised by the former international development secretary Andrew Mitchell and the Labour MPs Alison McGovern and John Woodcock, has been collecting signatures in an attempt to shift No 10’s position in favour of the plan.
There are currently 201 MPs on its list, including Labour frontbenchers, the Scottish National party frontbench, Liberal Democrats and a number of Conservative backbenchers.
Combined with the government payroll of about 130 MPs, that would mean a clear majority in parliament in favour of airdrops of aid to those starving and suffering amid fighting in Aleppo.
The government has resisted the plan, warning it would be “hugely complicated” and could place UK forces “in harm’s way” as they delivered aid to the besieged city.
On Monday, Tobias Ellwood, a Foreign Office minister, said there could be a risk of British planes being shot down, although he did not rule out airdrops.
He said the government was considering what it could do through the UN. “If we step in and start doing things ourselves, our involvement in the Syria campaign will take on a very different perspective, for which we would need the permission and support of this house,” Ellwood said.
The campaigning MPs believe the signatures show the will of the House of Commons would be clear if the government supported the position in favour of airdrops.
They argue that there is clear momentum in the Commons in support of further humanitarian action in Aleppo, while a public petition is also gathering signatures.
The issue was also raised in prime minister’s questions by Angus Robertson, the SNP leader in Westminster, who pressed the government to do more to help end the suffering of people in Syria.
“The situation in the besieged city of Aleppo is so bad it could be one of the biggest massacres of civilian population since the second world war,” he said.
“It is very welcome that the UN security council is discussing Syria to consider what can actually be done to alleviate the suffering of people. But things are so bad that aid agencies say Aleppo is experiencing a descent into hell.
“Can I appeal to the prime minister, time is of the essence: please can everything be done to help the people of Aleppo and Syria?”
