United Kingdom parliament votes in favor of joining Syria air strikes

He was anxious a defeat would tarnish Britain’s reputation among its allies and serve as propaganda for Isis.

If lawmakers support Cameron, British air strikes – which finance minister George Osborne said would cost in the “low tens of millions of pounds” – could be launched from an air base in Cyprus within hours of a vote.

In a statement to his Doncaster North constituency, Mr Miliband said he would now oppose the plans to extend action against Islamic State, also known as Isil, into Syria.

But he faced rebellion within his own ranks, with Foreign Affairs Committee member John Baron telling The Courier the Prime Minister had failed to make a “comprehensive, long-term and realistic strategy” for air strikes.

Addressing Cameron during the debate, Corbyn said the term “both demeans the office of the prime minister and I believe undermines the seriousness of deliberations we are having today”. “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”.

He was among 66 Labour MPs who voted with the Government while seven Conservatives opposed the plans for military action.

He told MPs in the House of Commons tonight: “Daesh are an evil force that must be overcome but I’m not yet convinced that what is being proposed will achieve that”.

“The question is this: do we work with our allies to degrade and destroy this threat… or do we sit back and wait for them to attack us?” he told the House of Commons.

Up to 50 Labour MPs are thought to be ready to vote with the Government – including shadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn – resulting in the highly unusual scenario of the two keynote Opposition speeches coming from opposite sides of the debate.

Britain’s parliament looks set to vote in favour of joining the bombing campaign against the Islamic State group in Syria, despite growing doubts among the public and some MPs.

But numerous MPs crammed on to the Commons’ benches and walkways spoke against air strikes while thousands of anti-war protesters are expected to protest outside parliament later for the second night running.

But it is a blow to the leader of Britain’s main opposition Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn, who was against launching the air strikes.

United Kingdom foreign secretary Philip Hammond said that a war against Islamic State could not be won with airpower alone, and noted that a ground assault on Raqqa- the group’s nominal capital- could be years away.

Three former Labour ministers – Alan Johnson, Dame Margaret Beckett and Yvette Cooper – were among MPs making early speeches in favour of extending military action.

He added that the military action is in the best interests of the UK.

The vote passed after a number of Labour MPs chose not to follow the lead of Jeremy Corbyn in opposing the expansion of military action.