David Cameron has appealed for MPs to back British airstrikes against Islamic State (IS) in Syria, asking: “If not now, when?”
The Prime Minister said the UK could not afford to “stand aside” from the fight and it was “morally” unacceptable to leave the US, France and other allies to carry the burden.
He insisted there was strong legal justification for extending the current military action in Iraq, on grounds of self-defence and the recent UN Security Council resolution.
In a statement to the Commons, Mr Cameron admitted that IS – also known as Isis, Isil and Daesh – could not be defeated by airstrikes alone. But he argued it was a key part of a wider “comprehensive” strategy to deal with the threat.
Mr Cameron said he would not call a vote in the Commons on airstrikes in Syria until he was sure there was a clear majority in favour of action as defeat would be a “publicity coup” for IS.
He told MPs that Britain must judge whether inaction in Syria carried greater risks than action.
And he added: “The military advice and diplomatic advice and the security advice all says that the risks of inaction are greater.”
Addressing concerns that joining airstrikes in Syria would put Britain at risk of Paris-style terror attacks, the PM said that security agencies agreed that the UK was already “in the top tier of countries that Isil is targeting”.
“The only way to deal with that reality is to address the threat we face and to do so now,” he said.
Mr Cameron acknowledged that airstrikes alone would not be enough to defeat IS, but said they would help moderate Syrian forces which deploy an estimated 70,000 troops on the ground.
The full answer to the threat from IS would not be delivered until there is a new Syrian government which is genuinely representative of all the country’s people, he said.
Mr Cameron said he would not call a vote in the Commons on airstrikes in Syria until he was sure there was a clear majority in favour of action as defeat wouldbe a “publicity coup” for IS.
He told MPs that Britain must judge whether inaction in Syria carried greater risks than action.
And he added: “The military advice and diplomatic advice and the security advice all says that the risks of inaction are greater.”
Addressing concerns that joining airstrikes in Syria would put Britain at risk of Paris-style terror attacks, the PM said that security agencies agreed that the UK was already “in the top tier of countries that Isil is targeting”.
“The only way to deal with that reality is to address the threat we face and to do so now,” he said.
Mr Cameron acknowledged that airstrikes alone would not be enough to defeat IS, but said they would help moderate Syrian forces which deploy an estimated 70,000 troops on the ground.
The full answer to the threat from IS would not be delivered until there is a new Syrian government which is genuinely representative of all the country’s people, he said.
Mr Cameron said his “first responsibility” and that of all MPs was to “keep the British people safe”.
“The reason for acting is the very direct threat that Isil poses to our country and our way of life,” he said.
“They have already taken the lives of British hostages and inspired the worst terrorist attack against British people since 7/7 on the beaches of Tunisia.”
Mr Cameron said seven attacks over the past year had been linked to IS or inspired by its propaganda.
“I am in no doubt that it is in our national interest to stop them. And stopping them means taking action in Syria, because it is Raqqa that is their headquarters,” he said.
He added: “We shouldn’t be content with outsourcing our security to our allies.
“If we won’t act now, when our friend and ally France has been struck in this way, then our friends and allies can be forgiven for asking: If not now, when?”