Cameron sets out case for United Kingdom anti-IS strikes on Syria
British Prime Minister David Cameron said he would make his case to parliament on Thursday to join the coalition striking ISIL in Syria.
Cameron said the United Kingdom must pursue military and diplomatic tracks in parallel and that the country does not have “the luxury of being able to wait until the Syrian conflict is resolved before tackling ISIL”.
Britain can not “subcontract its security to other countries”, Cameron wrote in response to a Parliamentary inquiry that was issued on November 26.
A Commons vote is expected within weeks on whether to authorise air strikes.
Announcing the outcome of a defence review, Mr Cameron told lawmakers that his government would add 12 billion pounds (S$25 billion) to the defence budget over the next decade, largely for military equipment, adding that such an investment was “vital at a time when the threats to our country are growing”.
The committee’s Conservative chairman Crispin Blunt has indicated the conditions set in the report could now be met.
Labour’s spokeswoman on defense issues, Maria Eagle, told the BBC on Monday that even the party’s leader, Jeremy Corbyn – who is known for his anti-war stance in general – may vote in favor.
Mr Corbyn has indicated his opposition to intervention, but some of his MPs are likely to back the move.
Mr Benn took to the airwaves to back David Cameron ‘s stance after a meeting of the shadow Cabinet exposed the deep split within the party.
The government argues it is “illogical” to restrict action to Iraq as IS does not recognise the border between the countries.
Crispin Blunt, the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, responded to Mr Cameron in the House of Commons saying that having considered the Prime Minister’s response he was in favour of taking action. “It is absurd. The party is supposed to be coming to a decision on air strikes”.
The seven-point plan includes maintaining the UK’s counter-terrorism capabilities, advancing a political settlement in Syria, delivering a credible government for the war-torn Middle East nation and defeating IS through “military and wider action”.
The Prime Minister will not hold a Commons vote until he is sure of victory after he lost a motion in 2013.
Assad’s “brutal attacks against his own people” act as a recruitment factor for the ISIL, Cameron said in the statement.
Hollande said France plans to intensify its air strikes on ISIL targets in Syria and the aircraft carrier, Charles de Gaulle, is moving into position.
Mr Walker said: “If it will help the situation in Syria and the benefits can be laid out very clearly I will support it, but if there isn’t evidence of that I don’t think it is worth risking our troops”.