Parliament recalled on Friday to discuss air strikes in Iraq but not Syria

 
Ready to go: RAF Tornado fighters have been flying surveillance over Iraq and can be switched to a ground-attack role quickly
Standard Reporter25 September 2014
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Parliament is to be recalled on Friday to discuss the possible British involvement in air strikes on the Islamic State terror group in Iraq.

David Cameron has announced MPs will return to Westminster for a vote which could see RAF planes joining the US, France and a number of Arab states in bombarding IS positions as early as this weekend.

The prime minister, who hopes to avoid a repeat of last year’s Commons defeat over air strikes in Syria, said he is confident he would get the support of the House.

However, Mr Cameron said the British intervention will be restricted to northern Iraq and will not launch any strikes on in Syria.

He said: “What we are doing is legal, it is right, it does not involve British troops on the ground," he said.

"As ever with our country, when we are threatened in this way we should not turn away from what needs to be done."

The Prime Minister said that he was responding to a request for assistance from the Iraqi government - seen by British officials as providing the legal underpinning for military action.

He made clear that the action would be restricted to Iraq and that it would require a further debate and vote by MPs if the Government was to extend air strikes into Syria.

Downing Street said that Commons Speaker John Bercow had agreed to the request to summon MPs - currently in recess for the party conference season - back to Westminster.

The debate - on a "substantive motion" - will be opened for the Government by Mr Cameron and closed by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, with a vote due at 5.30pm.

Mr Clegg confirmed that the Liberal Democrats would be supporting the Government motion.

"There are many people across the country who see what this medieval murderous organisation does, slaughtering people regardless of their ethnicity or their religion; an organisation which is actively plotting to do us harm in this country," he said.

"I think most people across the country want the British Government to play our part in ridding the world of this vile threat."

As the shadow cabinet met in Manchester at the end of the Labour Party conference to discuss its position.

Following the announcement that Parliament will be recalled, Labour leader Ed Miliband said his party would support the proposal for air strikes in Iraq.

He said: "We cannot turn away from the threat of Isil which is a murderous organisation, has taken British hostages, threatens the stability of the region and is therefore a threat to the UK's national interest.

"That is why we will be supporting the Government's proposal for UK air strikes in Iraq against Isil.

"I want to reassure people there is no question of committing UK ground troops. There is an alliance which includes countries in the region.”

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