And he added: “The military advice and diplomatic advice and the security advice all says that the risks of inaction are greater”. And he said that while ground forces would also be needed, they would not be British.
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“We do not have the luxury of being able to wait until the Syrian conflict is resolved before tackling ISIL (Islamic State)”, Cameron wrote in a response to parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, which had said a policy to extend air strikes was “incoherent” without a strategy to defeat the militants.
While the numbers are tight, MPs look set to approve the move, meaning the first British air strikes on Syria could come within days.
He said: “I believe there is a compelling case to take the effective action to keep our country safe”.
The BBC understands senior government ministers, including Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, will ring Labour MPs over the weekend to press the case for action.
Is Labour working through its policy differences on bombing Syria or is the shadow cabinet genuinely split?
The shadow chancellor called for colleagues to show cool heads as discussions over the party’s position on air strikes continue ahead of Monday’s shadow cabinet meeting.
He said he had no reason to doubt the Prime Minister’s figure of a guaranteed 70,000 allied troops within the Free Syrian Army and Syrian Kurdish forces that would work on the ground if Britain started bombing.
“Rather than ignoring this recent history by joining the long list of countries that have bombed Syria in the a year ago, we urge the government to stop arming reactionary and aggressive regimes like Saudi Arabia and Qatar that sponsor terrorist groups and look for political solutions as the only viable way to end the conflict”.
Mr Corbyn’s allies were mobilising to put pressure on MPs to back him over Syria, which has been the catalyst for the most heated infighting yet under his 12-week-old leadership.
A Black Country Labour MP has suggested party leader Jeremy Corbyn could resign over the question of whether to bomb ISIL in Syria.
Mr Watson hinted a free vote – allowing the shadow cabinet and Labour MPs to vote as they please – might be the best way out of the situation.
The main opposition Labour Party is divided on airstrikes.
“I have never accepted the strategic shrinkage argument for a minute”, Cameron said.
Shadow Cabinet Office minister Jonathan Ashworth posted a website link to the survey on Twitter, saying “consultation always a good thing”.
After a week in which Mr Corbyn’s close ally Ken Livingstone was embroiled in a row over mental health with North Durham MP Kevan Jones, the Labour leader was keen to stress to members in Wearside how Labour would campaign on the issue.
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“The RAF has significant capabilities for precision air strikes, aerial reconnaissance and air-to-air refuelling support”.
