The news dominating the weekend, and likely the rest of the week, has been the dramatic victory for the rebels in Syria. The fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime marks a turning point in Syria’s tumultuous history, ending over five decades of Assad family rule. The collapse unfolded rapidly as rebel forces, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), swept through the country capturing major cities with minimal resistance from government forces weakened by years of war and diminishing support from allies like Russia and Iran.
This development appears to mark the end to a civil war that has been raging since 2011, in which Syria became the site of extreme brutality and outside influence. Over the course of the last decade and a half, Syria has seen the rise and fall of ISIS, active fighting between Russian militias and US special forces, Turkish invasion, growth of Kurdish resistance, and now the end of one of the longest reigning familial dictatorships in the Middle East.
Actions over the weekend have been met with cautious optimism across the world. Attention, particularly in the West, now turns to the future and how to navigate a Syrian state controlled by HTS - who not too long ago were a faction of Al-Qaeda and are a proscribed terrorist organisation in the UK.
At the start of this week, Prime Minister Keir Starmer is in the Middle East on a prearranged visit to the UAE and Saudi Arabia. This visit was to be focused on recent investment in the UK and securing economic bonds, however Syria is now likely to dominate. Starmer has said: “we must ensure civilians are protected, minorities are protected, and that can only be through a political process”. Of primary concern will be the Kurdish population in Syria, who due to being the smallest of the factions, are at risk of persecution from all sides including Turkey, remnants of ISIS, and HTS themselves. It is yet to be seen whether the US and UK will step in to protect their once vital allies in defeating Islamic terrorism.
Whilst Starmer is abroad once again, he will hope last week’s milestones landed well with a sceptical press and public. The milestones were aimed at addressing core public concerns, such as economic recovery, education, healthcare, energy security, and crime prevention. Dubbed the “Plan for Change,” these initiatives reflect Labour’s manifesto commitments, emphasising measurable outcomes to enhance accountability and rebuild public trust. The focus extends to reforms in public services, aligning with Starmer's broader vision to tackle “managed decline” and reinvigorate the state apparatus.
Critics argue the milestones, while ambitious, face implementation challenges. For example, Labour’s promise to improve early education by reducing school readiness gaps requires significant systemic changes and resources. Similarly, healthcare reforms hinge on increasing NHS capacity, such as creating more GP appointments – though many worry setting targets will limit focus on broader reforms. Public opinion remains mixed, with recent polls showing declining approval ratings for Starmer, underlining the need for tangible results to restore voter confidence.
Carrying these announcements into the new week, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Pat McFadden, is set to argue the civil service needs to adopt a “start-up” mentality to improve the delivery of public services. He will advocate for a “test and learn” culture, inspired by tech companies, to foster innovation and better achieve government goals. McFadden will introduce a £100 million “innovation fund” to support this shift, creating teams across the country tasked with experimenting with new approaches in public services. The Government plans to bring in tech workers for short-term secondments to help implement these changes. The initiative will begin in January 2025, with trials in Manchester, Sheffield, Essex, and Liverpool, focusing on areas like family support and temporary accommodation.
What’s on in Parliament
Monday 9th December
House of Commons
- Oral Questions: Education
- Westminster Hall Debate: e-petition 639319 relating to the sale and use of fireworks
- Adjournment: Government policy on waste and recycling
House of Lords
- Oral Questions: Matching the term dates of maintained schools with academy schools
- Oral Questions: The government's legislative agenda on vocational training
- Oral Questions: The size of the House of Lords
- Legislation: Football Governance Bill – committee stage (day 4)
Tuesday 10th December
House of Commons
- Oral Questions: Justice
- Legislation: Committee of the whole House of the Finance Bill (day 1)
- Committee: Employment Rights Bill : Debate
- Committee: Defence Committee : Oral evidence: One-off session on Ukraine: 1000 days on
- Westminster Hall Debate: Cycling infrastructure in rural areas
House of Lords
- Oral Questions: Developing a National Youth Strategy
- Oral Questions: Touring in, and trading with, Europe for the arts and creative industries
- Legislation: Data (Use and Access) Bill [HL] – committee stage (day 2)
Wednesday 11th December
House of Commons
- Oral Questions: Wales
- Prime Minister’s Question Time
- Committee: Health and Social Care Committee : Oral evidence: The 10 Year Health Plan
- Westminster Hall Debate: Responsibilities of housing developers
House of Lords
- Oral Questions: The number of individuals who have been prescribed anti-depressants in the past 10 years, the costs involved and assessment of the risks and ramifications
- Oral Questions: Special educational needs in state-funded schools
Thursday 12th December
House of Commons
- Oral Questions: Business and Trade
- Business Statement: Business Questions to the Leader of the House
- General debate on Lord Etherton’s independent review into the treatment of LGBT veterans
- Backbench Business: Performance of the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency
House of Lords
- Oral Questions: The delivery of mandatory house-building targets
- Debate: Eliminating domestic abuse, and to support its victims and survivors
- Debate: Impact of recent government proposals on the future of small farms and family businesses
Friday 13th December
House of Commons
- No Debates Scheduled
House of Lords
- Legislation: Women, Peace & Security Bill - third reading
- Legislation: Non-Consensual Sexually Explicit Images and Videos (Offences) Bill – second reading