Cameron goes for a Syria vote on Wednesday

It is thought the first bombing missions could take place before the end of the week if the Commons votes on Wednesday in favour of extending the current action against IS in Iraq into neighbouring Syria. Corbyn’s already weak authority over his lawmakers may be further dented if a large proportion of Labour members of Parliament, especially senior figures, vote against him, even though he’s agreed they can vote according to their consciences.

David Cameron made it clear he would not call a vote unless he was sure he could win it because he does not want to hand IS a propaganda victory.

Cameron and others who back extending strikes in the wake of last month’s Paris terrorist attacks argue that they are supported by a United Nations resolution, and that allies including France and the USA have asked for Britain’s help. “The headquarters of the terrorists is in Syria and it makes no sense to recognize this border in the action we take when ISIL themselves don’t recognize this border”, he added.

The new Labour Chief Jeremy Corbyn rejects air strikes in Syria, but he has removed the group discipline of its members.

Toughest questions of all: Do marchers carrying banners, or anti-war votes on social media, mean all the people are against air strikes?

The Labour leader had wanted a two-day debate on the “highly complex situation” and accused the Prime Minister of “bulldozing” a matter of national security through the Commons “for political convenience”.

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.

MPs will tonight decide whether or not to back David Cameron’s plan for airstrikes on ISIS targets in Syria.

Prime Minister David Cameron has urged MPs from all parties to vote in favour of the move on Wednesday.

Monday’s shadow cabinet meeting was told that some 43 percent of Labour MPs – almost 100 out of 231 – supported air strikes while 57 percent or 132 would oppose them.

In particular, he challenged Mr Cameron’s claim that there were 70,000 moderate opposition fighters on the ground in Syria, saying the Prime Minister needed to explain where they were and how they could be brought into the fight against IS.

Many Britons are wary of entering into more costly military action in the Middle East after Western intervention in Iraq, Libya and Afghanistan failed to bring stability and, some believe, led to the rise of militants such as Islamic State.