Cameron Makes The Case For War Against Isis In Syria

#1 Scroll down for the best quotes from the debate

David Cameron today urged MPs to back airstrikes against ISIS in Syria to defeat the 'women-raping, Muslim-murdering, medieval monsters' hikjacking Islam for their 'warped ends'.

The Prime Minister opened a 10-and-a-half hour debate with a pledge that bombing raids targeting the 'head of the snake' of ISIS in Raqqa will be matched by humanitarian support and diplomatic pressure to end the conflict.

He said Britain must answer the call from its allies to defeat the 'death cult' as he moved to calling the terror group 'Daesh' because the fanatics find it 'insulting'.

But he repeatedly refused to apologise for calling MPs who oppose airstrikes in Syria 'terrorist sympathisers' at a meeting of Tory MPs last night.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn accused the government of rushing into the vote before 'before it slips from his hands', as a poll showed public support for airstrikes was falling.

#2 David Cameron today repeatedly refused to apologise for calling MPs who oppose airstrikes in Syria 'terrorist sympathisers' as a marathon Commons debate on airstrikes got underway

#3 Commons Speaker John Bercow revealed that 157 MPs have signalled they would like to speak in the marathon debate

MPs will vote on RAF airstrikes after 10pm, with at least 40 Labour MPs expected to back the government despite Mr Corbyn warning them there will be 'no hiding place' for those who support military action.

As MPs gathered in the Commons today, Speaker John Bercow revealed that 157 MPs have signalled they would like to speak in the marathon debate.

In a stormy debate in Parliament:

Mr Cameron faced calls to apologise for calling opponents of airstrikes 'terrorist sympathisers'

The Prime Minister said there were 'no simple answers' to the Syria crisis, but promised comprehensive strategy that also includes, political, diplomatic and humanitarian action

He said he would start calling the terror group 'Daesh' instead of Islamic State, ISIL or ISIS because the fanatics find it 'insulting'

A 'comprehensive review' is being launched to root out and eliminate funding of extremism in the UK

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said public opposition to the PM's 'ill thought-out rush to war is growing'

But Labour MPs publicly called on their leader to condemn vile online attacks from his supporters, calling supporters of airstrikes 'a war-mongering piece of crap'

#4 Mr Cameron said Britain must answer the call from its allies to defeat the 'death cult' as he moved to calling the terror group 'Daesh' because the fanatics find it 'insulting'.Cameron won't apologise for 'terrorist sympathisers' commentLoaded: 0%Progress: 0%00:00PlayMuteCurrent Time 0:00/Duration Time 2:48FullscreenNeed Text

Mr Cameron told MPs that British Muslims are 'appalled' by the behaviour of jihadist groups in Iraq and Syria.

'These women-raping, Muslim-murdering, medieval monsters - they are hijacking the peaceful religion of Islam for their warped ends.

'These people are not Muslims - they are outlaws from Islam, and we must stand with our Muslim friends here and around the world as they reclaim their religion from these terrorists.

'Far from an attack on Islam, we are engaged in a defence of Islam. Far from the risk of radicalising British Muslims by acting, failing to act would actually be to betray British Muslims and the wider religion of Islam in its very hour of need.'

#5

As Mr Cameron started setting out the case for military action, he was challenged over remarks last night branding opponents of action 'terrorist sympathisers'.

The Prime Minister delivered the barb at a private meeting of Tory MPs on the eve of a crunch Commons vote on escalating the UK military campaign against the jihadists.

Labour MPs accused Mr Cameron of 'demeaning' the office of Prime Minister with the remarks.

Mr Cameron said: 'I respect that governments of all colours have had to fight terrorism and I respect people who disagree and respect opinions on all sides. I hope that provides some reassurance to people on all sides.'

We should answer the call from our allies, the action we propose is legal, necessary and the right thing to do to keep this country safe

Prime Minister David Cameron

But this was not enough to placate his critics, with Labour MPs John Woodcock and Caroline Flint, the SNP's Alex Salmond and Lib Dem Tom Brake demanding he apologise.

Mr Cameron refused, only repeating his line that he 'respects people who disagree'.

Labour sources suggested that Mr Cameron's controversial comments could embolden MPs to support military action.

It had been suggested that the 'sheer level' of pressure on MPs to oppose military action, fuelled by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, mean the number supporting airstrikes could be cut to only 30.

But a senior Labour source told MailOnline: 'Cameron's display of crass behaviour could firm up support. MPs faced with both Tory twits and Labour tweets will ignore it all and think 'I'm going to go with my gut on this'.

It was suggested that around 40 Labour MPs could support airstrikes, while up to 50 would be a shock.

#6 MPs will vote on RAF airstrikes after 10pm, with at least 40 Labour MPs expected to back the government

The PM sought to focus the debate on the aims of military action. Mr Cameron said: 'We should answer the call from our allies, the action we propose is legal, necessary and the right thing to do to keep this country safe.

'We should not put our own national security in the hands of others.

'Isil have brutally murdered British hostages. They have inspired the worst terrorist attack against British people since 7/7 on the beaches of Tunisia.

'And they have plotted atrocity after atrocity on the streets here at home.

'Since November last year, our security services have foiled no fewer than seven different plots against our people. So this threat is very real.

'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, from where they are plotting to kill British people.

'Or do we sit back and wait for them to attack us.'

Mr Cameron promised to take dozens of interventions as he made his case for war ahead of the crunch vote.

He told MPs: 'I am not pretending the answers are simple.

'The situation in Syria is incredibly complex - I am not overstating the contribution that our incredible servicemen and women can make.

'Nor am I ignoring the risks of military action, nor am I pretending military action is any more than one part of the answer - I am absolutely clear we must pursue a comprehensive strategy that also includes, political, diplomatic and humanitarian action.

'I know the long-term solution in Syria, as in Iraq, must ultimately be a government that represents all of its people. One that can work with us to defeat the evil organisation of Isil for good.

'But not withstanding all of this, there is a simple question at the heart of the debate today.'

#7 Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said a decision to bomb terrorists in Syria will 'almost inevitably lead to the deaths of innocents'Corbyn suggests air strikes could lead to terror attacksLoaded: 0%Progress: 0%00:00PlayMuteCurrent Time 0:00/Duration Time 0:30FullscreenNeed Text

#8

Mr Cameron said there had been a recent incident when Syrian opposition forces needed urgent support against Daesh in Syria and RAF planes were 'just eight minutes away' over the border in Iraq.

He said: 'No-one else was close but Britain couldn't help so the Syrian opposition forces had to wait 40 minutes in a perilous situation while other coalition forces scrambled.

'That sort of delay, it endangers the lives of those fighting Daesh on the ground and, frankly, does nothing for our reputation with our vital allies.'

Mr Cameron also said the UK 'cannot wait' for a political settlement in Syria before targeting ISIS.

He said: 'The threat is now. Isil Daesh are planning the attacks now.'

Mr Corbyn was humiliated by his own shadow cabinet on Monday, when frontbenchers lined up to insist they would vote in favour of bombing ISIS in its Syrian stronghold.

#9 A new YouGov survey reveals that only 48 per cent are now in favour, while the proportion against has increased by 11 points to 31 per cent

#10 Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn pictured leaving his Islington home today as he prepares to make the case against airstrikes in the Commons. However his shadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn (right) will wind up the debate by arguing in favour of military action

Prime Minister's Questions have been cancelled to allow for today's crunch vote which comes more than a year after MPs agreed to airstrikes against ISIS in Iraq, after the government in Baghdad asked for help.

Mr Cameron has long argued that it made no sense to respect a border between Iraq and Syria which is ignored by ISIS.

But after losing a vote in 2013 to launch airstrikes against the Assad regime for targeting the Syrian people, Downing Street was reluctant to bring forward a vote on bombing ISIS in the same country.

It is thought the Ministry of Defence is planning to send at least two extra Tornado GR4 fighter jets and six Typhoon attack aircraft to RAF Akrotiri if the vote gives the go ahead.

The Paris terror attacks last month, which left 130 people dead, hardened public opinion and saw senior Labour figures defy Mr Corbyn - a long-standing opponent of war.

However, a new poll today showed support for bombing ISIS in Syria has dropped sharply in just two weeks, with less than half of voters now in favour of airstrikes.

A YouGov poll for The Times carried out days after the November 13 atrocity in the French capital showed 59 per cent of the public approved of the RAF taking part in airstrikes against ISIS in Syria.

But a new survey reveals that only 48 per cent are now in favour, while the proportion against has increased by 11 points to 31 per cent.

Men are more likely to be in favour - 58 per cent to 26 per cent against - while women are more evenly split on 39 to 36 per cent.

The proportion who believe that airstrikes are 'not effective' in the battle to defeat ISIS has also risen from 37 a week ago to 42 per cent now.

It shows that 42 per cent of Labour voters are against bombing, up 16 points in just a week.

Angus Robertson, the SNP leader in Westminster, insisted there is 'no shortage' of countries bombing Islamic State in Syria.

He backed an amendment signed by more than 100 MPs from six parties - including Tories and Labour.

He insisted the SNP does 'share the concerns of everybody else' about the terrorist threat posed by Daesh.

#11

But he does not believe UK air strikes should be expanded into the country.

He said: 'There is agreement across this House that the threat from Daesh is real and doing nothing is not an option.

'However, we recall that only two years ago this Prime Minister, this Government, wanted us to bomb the opponents of Daesh which would no doubt have strengthened them.

'Now of course we haven't heard it yet but there is no shortage of countries currently bombing in Syria.'

He added: 'The point is, there is bombing currently under way in Syria and to pretend that what is being proposed while not taking that into account is highly misleading.'