United Kingdom votes on whether to bomb ISIS in Syria

British war planes are poised to begin a bombing campaign in Syria tomorrow after MPs overwhelmingly backed military action against Islamic State (IS). “Not just their calculated brutality but their belief that they are superior to every single one of us in this Chamber tonight and all of the people that we represent”.

“The threat is very real”, Cameron said, urging MPs to “answer the call” from British allies and to authorize the strikes against IS targets.

Some of the most eloquent arguments in favour of the government’s motion came from the opposition benches and some of the prime minister’s fellow Conservatives were among the most persuasive speakers against it. David Davis, a former Conservative spokesman on home affairs, said everyone could agree with 90 per cent of the motion.

They have included Walthamstow MP Stella Creasy, who was forced to leave the House of Commons debate on Wednesday after her staff received abusive phone calls. These extremists will continue to plan and carry out attacks on the West because of the values we stand for, and we should not be cowed by their propaganda about retaliation against countries who challenge them.

This story was first published on CNN.com, “UK Parliament to vote on whether to bomb ISIS in Syria”.

British support for strikes has dropped sharply in a week according to an opinion poll published on Wednesday, with those in favour down to 48 per cent from 59 per cent, and those against rising to 31 per cent from 21 per cent in the YouGov survey for the Times.

The prime minister also defended his controversial claim that there were 70,000 moderate opposition fighters in Syria, saying it was the estimate of the Joint Intelligence Committee – the UK’s senior intelligence body.

Mr Corbyn faced a battle within his own ranks over the vote.

The prime minister branded opponents of airstrikes in Syria “terrorist sympathisers”.

Thousands of protesters gather in central London in a last ditch effort to stop Britain joining airstrikes on Syria, a day before a parliamentary vote on the move.

“The question is this”, Cameron said, “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?”

Corbyn said he opposed the proposed action because it was “ill-thought out”. “I appeal to colleagues on all sides to learn the lessons from Afghanistan, not to ignore the lessons of Iraq, not to ignore the lessons of Libya”. More than 50 senior members of the Labour Party voted in favor of the strikes, BBC News reported Wednesday.

But with support for air strikes headed by shadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn and deputy leader Tom Watson – and even leadership loyalist John McDonnell calling for a free vote – Mr Corbyn had no choice but to back down. “There is no place whatsoever in the Labour Party for anybody who has been abusing those members of the Labour Party who choose to vote with the government on this resolution”, he said.