Prime Minister David Cameron opened the debate this morning, but repeatedly came under fire from multiple MPs questioning media reports that he urged his Conservative colleagues late last night not to vote with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and a “bunch of terrorist sympathisers”.
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“The question is this: do we work with our allies to degrade and destroy this threat and do we go after these terrorists in their heartlands?” he said.
At least 110 MPs from six different parties have already signed up to an amendment seeking to block air strikes, spearheaded by Tory John Baron and the Scottish National Party’s Westminster leader Angus Robertson.
He conceded that, while they were not “ideal partners” and “some of them do have views that we don’t agree with”, they could “play a role” in the future of Syria.
Doncaster North MP Ed Miliband has this afternoon confirmed that he will vote against Government plans to authorise air strikes on IS targets in Syria..
It is thought the first bombing missions could take place before the end of the week if the Commons votes tomorrow in favour of extending the current action against IS in Iraq into neighbouring Syria.
Cameron asked his Conservative MPs to vote for airstrikes because the United Kingdom wanted to send the message that it is standing alongside its allies already engaged in military action against ISIS.
Meanwhile, MP Greg Hands for Chelsea and Fulham said he supports Mr Cameron’s motion and claimed: “It is the right thing to do, and ISIL represent a clear and present danger to my constituents”. Russian Federation is carrying out its own air strikes against the group, but it’s also targeting other rebel groups opposed to Assad, including some backed by the West and its allies.
“Corbyn now has a net negative approval rating even among those who voted Labour in 2015 (-6, down from +27 in November)”, said YouGov.
“The prime minister’s attempt to brand those who planned to vote against the government as terrorist sympathisers both demeans the office of the prime minister and I believe undermines the seriousness of deliberations we are having today”.
“Given the current terror threat it is obvious that these wars have not achieved their aims”.
Mr Wood said: “I have listened to constituents and what the Prime Minister has said and there is a very clear and strong case as to why we need to expand the current action in Iraq to cover Isil in Syria as well”.
She said there had been “an honest difference of opinion” with Cameron.
However, in a break from tradition he is allowing Labour politicians to vote freely on the issue rather than enforcing party discipline.
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Much of the opposition stems from lingering resentment over Britain’s involvement in the Iraq war in 2003.
