Instead of maximising their military power, they have forsworn the use of ground troops, except to uphold a peace agreement that may never come into being.
"That being said, we respect the rule of law and we will uphold it, " the shadow justice secretary added, prompting laughter from government backbenchers.
The SDLP's Alban Maginness has accused the DUP's Nelson McCausland of being "dangerously close" to breaking his Stormont ministerial pledge, which includes a commitment to uphold the rule of law.