Bombing by Christmas

Downing Street believes the security council’s unanimous adoption of a resolution to ‘redouble’ efforts against IS has removed the main barrier to winning a Commons vote in favour of air strikes on Syria.

Mr Cameron has spent the weekend preparing his case for a bombing campaign in the wake of terror attacks on Paris which could see airstrikes begin before Christmas.

He will now deliver a formal response to the Conservative-dominated foreign affairs committee, which earlier this month questioned whether UK action would be legal without a ‘coherent international strategy’.

But as the drumbeat for war grew louder, the Kremlin warned Britain must co-operate with Moscow before launching any air strikes on IS fighters in Syria. 

A Russian foreign ministry spokesman said any British action should be closely co-ordinated with Moscow, ‘so that the steps are not directed at destroying the statehood of Syria’.

Russia has been accused by the West of using its air strikes to target moderate opponents of its long-time ally, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, as well as jihadis. 

The spokesman said Mr Cameron – who lost a vote calling for military action against the Assad regime two years ago – should reach ‘not for the microphone but for the telephone’ and talk to Russia.

Government sources said that, in his response to the select committee, Mr Cameron will argue that UK action would be legitimate and justified as part of global efforts. 

The UN’s resolution on Friday night called for the unprecedented threat posed by IS to be combated ‘by all means’.

If the Government calculates that enough MPs on all sides of the House have been convinced, a vote on military action will be called in early December. The source said: ‘The PM’s response to MPs will be a blueprint for war. We have a strong case.’

Fewer than 15 Tory MPs are expected to vote against the Government, while as many as 60 Labour MPs are thought to be prepared to defy leader Jeremy Corbyn and back action.

This would give the Government a clear victory – and add to Mr Corbyn’s difficulties.

No 10 will not call a vote unless it is sure it can win, because a loss would hand IS a propaganda victory.

It is understood officials have been encouraged by how ‘helpful and co-operative’ Shadow Foreign Secretary Hilary Benn has been behind the scenes in providing estimates of Labour support for air strikes. 

The Government’s case was also boosted yesterday when Labour’s Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell indicated that MPs would not be whipped to back Mr Corbyn’s opposition to military action.

‘I’ve always had a bit of a preference for free votes when you go to war,’ Mr McDonnell said.

Mr Cameron is due to meet French President Francois Hollande tomorrow morning, with talks ‘expected to focus on counter-terrorism co-operation and the fight against IS’.

Mr Cameron, welcoming the UN resolution, said: ‘The international community has come together and has resolved to defeat this evil, which threatens people of every country and every religion. '

I will continue to make the case for us to do more and to build support in Parliament for the action that I believe is necessary for Britain to take to protect our own security, as part of a determined international strategy. We cannot expect others to shoulder the burdens and the risks of protecting this country.’

Mr Corbyn said: ‘We welcome the involvement of the United Nations in this crisis, for which Labour has consistently argued.

‘[The] UN Security Council’s resolution must be a first step towards a comprehensive political settlement of the Syrian civil war, which is essential to defeating the threat from IS.’

(dailymail.co.uk)