British cabinet approves Syria airstrikes motion

British prime minister David Cameron has urged MPs from all parties - including Jeremy Corbyn's Labour Party - to back his call for military action against Islamic State in Syria.

Mr Cameron said a motion that the Commons will vote on on Wednesday has military action against Islamic State; also known as Isis or Isil, as part of a “broader strategy” for the region.

With Mr Corbyn opposed to the extension of the bombing campaign from Iraq into neighbouring Syria and the prospect of a small rebellion on the Tory benches, Mr Cameron needs the backing of Labour MPs at odds with their leader to guarantee success in the vote.

Speaking from Downing Street he said: “I will be making the arguments and I hope as many Members of Parliament - across all parties - will support me as possible.

“We had a meeting of the cabinet this morning and have agreed the motion that will be put in front of the House of Commons.

“That motion talks about, yes, the necessity of taking military action agains Isil in Syria as well as Iraq, but it is part of a broader strategy.

“It’s about politics and diplomacy and humanitarian aid, all of which we need to bring to bear to bring peace to Syria but to make sure we protect our national interest of fighting against this appalling terrorist organisation.”

Asked how soon military action could begin in Syria if the vote was passed on Wednesday night, Mr Cameron pointed out that the RAF was already engaged in strikes against Isis in Iraq.

He defended the way the debate was being handled following Labour criticism that he was not allowing two days for Parliament to consider military action.

Mr Cameron said: “Obviously when you contemplate any military action — and remember our pilots are flying over Iraq attacking Isil at the moment, day after day - there is a risk to our brave armed forces when we put them in harm’s way. That’s why we should think so carefully before doing so.

“This has been a very deliberate and proper process - a Cabinet meeting, legal advice, a proper motion in front of the House of Commons, 10-and-a-half hours’ debate tomorrow in the House of Commons and obviously we should think of our brave armed forces and their families for the risk that they take on our behalf.

“That obviously preys very heavily on my mind.”

Mr Corbyn urged his shadow Ccabinet colleagues who plan to support the Government to “think again” and claimed air strikes would lead to people being bombed in their homes.

The Labour leader is at odds with Hilary Benn over military intervention and warned his shadow foreign minister directly that "we are going to kill people in their homes by our bombs" by carrying out air strikes.

He told BBC Radio 2's Jeremy Vine programme: "I appeal to them to think again. Think of the complications and the implications of what we are doing and please cast your vote against supporting this Government's military endeavours in Syria."

Mr Corbyn said he did not agree with "great comrade" Diane Abbott that the free vote hands victory to Mr Cameron "on a plate" and insisted he had "not failed" despite being forced into allowing MPs to follow their consciences.

He suggested “more and more Labour MPs are becoming more and more sceptical” about the proposals. “We are not going to bomb our way to democracy,” he said.

The Labour leader insisted he was “confident” that he had the support of a “very large” proportion of party members but said there was a small number who were “die-hard” in backing action.

He added: “I’m saying to every MP you make up your own mind, there’s no hiding place behind a whipping arrangement or not, your decision on behalf of your constituents whether or not we should commit British troops into yet another war in the Middle East with no end-game in sight, no proper plan in sight, a mythical 75,000-strong apparently unknown Free Syrian Army operation, which is also infiltrated by a lot of jihadist elements.

“I think we are going into a very dangerous situation altogether.”

PA