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David Cameron to unveil new counter-terrorism measures in Syria statement David Cameron to unveil new counter-terrorism measures in Syria statement
(35 minutes later)
David Cameron is to set out details of further counter-terrorism measures as part of his announcement that Britain will take in around 10, 000 refugees from the Syrian border, a move to be funded by the government’s overseas aid budget. David Cameron is to set out details of further counter-terrorism measures as part of his announcement that Britain will take in about 10, 000 refugees from the Syrian border, a move to be funded by the government’s overseas aid budget.
Downing Street was reluctant to say what new measures would be set out in a statement to the Commons on Monday afternoon, but they will reflect the prime minister’s belief that the ungoverned space in northern Syria captured by Islamic State represents a security threat to the UK. Downing Street was reluctant to say what new measures would be unveiled in a statement to the Commons on Monday afternoon, but they will reflect the prime minister’s belief that the ungoverned space in northern Syria captured by Islamic State represents a security threat to the UK.
Related: David Cameron to unveil UK response to refugee crisis before parliamentRelated: David Cameron to unveil UK response to refugee crisis before parliament
The government already has a large counter-terrorism bill going through the Commons, but Cameron has yet to reach deals with airlines on passenger checks or with phone companies on monitoring calls.The government already has a large counter-terrorism bill going through the Commons, but Cameron has yet to reach deals with airlines on passenger checks or with phone companies on monitoring calls.
Cameron is putting pressure on the Labour party to back airstrikes against Isis in Syria and he will have been made more determined to put the issue to a Commons vote after the French president, François Hollande, announced he would back airstrikes and air reconnaissance.Cameron is putting pressure on the Labour party to back airstrikes against Isis in Syria and he will have been made more determined to put the issue to a Commons vote after the French president, François Hollande, announced he would back airstrikes and air reconnaissance.
Hollande had until now supported airstrikes in Iraq but not in Syria. Cameron will be reluctant to be seen as following the French in backing US-led airstrikes. Britain already provides air reconnaissance support over Syria. Hollande had previously supported airstrikes in Iraq but not in Syria. Cameron will be reluctant to be seen as following the French in backing US-led airstrikes. Britain already provides air reconnaissance support over Syria.
It is clear that if there is a fresh Commons vote, Cameron will argue for action against Isis and will not seek to start punitive bombing raids against Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian leader, the case made by Cameron two years ago.It is clear that if there is a fresh Commons vote, Cameron will argue for action against Isis and will not seek to start punitive bombing raids against Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian leader, the case made by Cameron two years ago.
No 10 said it was aware of reports that Russia was considering sending as many as 1,000 military personnel to Damascus to help Assad.No 10 said it was aware of reports that Russia was considering sending as many as 1,000 military personnel to Damascus to help Assad.
Opponents of a bombing campaign in northern Syria argue that it is Assad with his barrel bomb attacks that are inflicting the most damage and leading to the rise in refugees.Opponents of a bombing campaign in northern Syria argue that it is Assad with his barrel bomb attacks that are inflicting the most damage and leading to the rise in refugees.
Downing Street has declined to say how many refugees would be admitted to Britain. The Sunday Times reported that 10,000-15,000 people would be admitted as the government relaxes the criteria for the vulnerable persons relocation scheme, which has so far given sanctuary to just 216 people.Downing Street has declined to say how many refugees would be admitted to Britain. The Sunday Times reported that 10,000-15,000 people would be admitted as the government relaxes the criteria for the vulnerable persons relocation scheme, which has so far given sanctuary to just 216 people.
As the prime minister prepared to make his statement, the former international development secretary Andrew Mitchell called for a “massive diplomatic effort” to allow for the creation of two safe havens in Syria to shelter the refugees.As the prime minister prepared to make his statement, the former international development secretary Andrew Mitchell called for a “massive diplomatic effort” to allow for the creation of two safe havens in Syria to shelter the refugees.
Military forces from Britain and other countries from the EU and the Middle East, acting under a UN chapter 7 mandate, would protect the safe havens that could be based near the Turkish border in Idlib and in Daraa province, in south-west Syria by the border with Jordan, he said. This would involve enforcing a no-fly zone. Military forces from Britain and other countries from the EU and the Middle East, acting under a UN chapter seven mandate, would protect the safe havens that could be based near the Turkish border in Idlib and in Daraa province, in south-west Syria by the border with Jordan, he said. This would involve enforcing a no-fly zone.
Cameron’s spokeswoman poured cold water on the idea. “That is a proposal that has been around previously,” she said. “The challenge with that is: how do you make it work to ensure it truly is a safe haven for people?”Cameron’s spokeswoman poured cold water on the idea. “That is a proposal that has been around previously,” she said. “The challenge with that is: how do you make it work to ensure it truly is a safe haven for people?”
An alternative proposal to impose a no-fly zone against Assad has been canvassed, but it appears Britain will continue to call formally for Assad to stand aside as part of a wider political transition, while in the short-term focusing on Isis.An alternative proposal to impose a no-fly zone against Assad has been canvassed, but it appears Britain will continue to call formally for Assad to stand aside as part of a wider political transition, while in the short-term focusing on Isis.
Cameron’s aides stressed the UK would be joining in any EU-wide refugees quotas, and said it was within OECD guidelines for the UK to use aid money to help councils fund support refugees from Syria.Cameron’s aides stressed the UK would be joining in any EU-wide refugees quotas, and said it was within OECD guidelines for the UK to use aid money to help councils fund support refugees from Syria.
The frontrunner for the Labour leadership, Jeremy Corbyn, called for the UK to convene an urgent international summit on Syria, to discuss both the refugee crisis and measures to end the war in the country.The frontrunner for the Labour leadership, Jeremy Corbyn, called for the UK to convene an urgent international summit on Syria, to discuss both the refugee crisis and measures to end the war in the country.
He said: “Before any further military action in Syria is even contemplated, the UK should now lead in setting up an urgent summit on Syria and the region involving the EU, the US and especially neighbouring states to discuss a co-ordinated humanitarian response to the refugee crisis and how we secure peace.”He said: “Before any further military action in Syria is even contemplated, the UK should now lead in setting up an urgent summit on Syria and the region involving the EU, the US and especially neighbouring states to discuss a co-ordinated humanitarian response to the refugee crisis and how we secure peace.”
Corbyn hopes to make his case for a summit directly to Cameron during debate in the Commons following the prime minister’s statement.Corbyn hopes to make his case for a summit directly to Cameron during debate in the Commons following the prime minister’s statement.
There have already been two international conferences on the future of Syria sponsored by the United Nations and held in Geneva. They did not secure a settlement, mainly due to disagreements over the future of Assad and the attendance of Iran at the talks.There have already been two international conferences on the future of Syria sponsored by the United Nations and held in Geneva. They did not secure a settlement, mainly due to disagreements over the future of Assad and the attendance of Iran at the talks.
Asked whether Cameron would follow the lead of figures such as Band Aid founder Bob Geldof in inviting refugees into his own home, the prime minister’s spokeswoman told reporters: “I think what the British people expect is for the prime minister to be looking at what the country’s overall response is to these huge numbers of people we are seeing displaced and fleeing conflict.Asked whether Cameron would follow the lead of figures such as Band Aid founder Bob Geldof in inviting refugees into his own home, the prime minister’s spokeswoman told reporters: “I think what the British people expect is for the prime minister to be looking at what the country’s overall response is to these huge numbers of people we are seeing displaced and fleeing conflict.
“That’s what he’s been focused on over the weekend – looking at what is the right response such that the UK can take thousands of refugees, not just about numbers in certain households.”“That’s what he’s been focused on over the weekend – looking at what is the right response such that the UK can take thousands of refugees, not just about numbers in certain households.”
Speaking at a news conference in Paris, Hollande said terror attacks had been planned from Syria against several countries, including France. “My responsibility is to ensure that we are informed as much as possible on the threats to our country,” he said. “So I have asked the defence minister that from tomorrow reconnaissance flights begin over Syria that will enable us to consider airstrikes against Islamic State.”Speaking at a news conference in Paris, Hollande said terror attacks had been planned from Syria against several countries, including France. “My responsibility is to ensure that we are informed as much as possible on the threats to our country,” he said. “So I have asked the defence minister that from tomorrow reconnaissance flights begin over Syria that will enable us to consider airstrikes against Islamic State.”
He said it would be “pointless and unrealistic” for France to send ground troops into the country. But he said his government would continue to work for a political transition that sidelined Syria’s president.He said it would be “pointless and unrealistic” for France to send ground troops into the country. But he said his government would continue to work for a political transition that sidelined Syria’s president.