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Parliament 'set to be recalled' over Islamic State action Parliament recalled over air strikes on Islamic State in Iraq
(about 2 hours later)
Parliament is expected to be recalled on Friday to discuss the UK's role in air strikes against Islamic State in Iraq, the BBC understands. Parliament is to be recalled on Friday to discuss the UK's possible involvement role in air strikes against Islamic State (IS) in Iraq.
Defence secretary Michael Fallon said he expects a recall. Prime Minister David Cameron said MPs would debate the UK's response to the Iraqi government's request for help.
There has been a reluctance to make the announcement while Labour's conference is under way, it is understood. He added that he "would not turn away from what needs to be done".
It is expected that there will be a formal request from the Iraqi prime minister later on Wednesday for the UK to join in air strikes. The Liberal Democrats are backing air strikes in Iraq. Labour leader Ed Miliband has also said he is "open to the possibility".
Parliament is expected to be recalled after the Iraqi request has been received - Labour has confirmed to the BBC that there have been conversations between the parties about a recall. Meanwhile, the Foreign Office has said it is "aware" of reports that a British national has died in Syria, but it has "no further information at this moment".
"It looks as if we will have to ask Parliament's support," Mr Fallon told BBC correspondent David Loyn. IS - also known as ISIL - has taken control of large areas of Iraq and Syria in recent months, taking several Western hostages. It has threatened to kill British aid worker Alan Henning, having released footage of the killing of another British man, David Haines, earlier this month.
"This week for the first time we've seen other Arab countries involved in airstrikes, taking more responsibility for regional stability. This can't be something simply left to the United States - or to Britain," Mr Fallon said. Mr Cameron, who is in the US, said on Twitter: "I have requested that Parliament be recalled to debate the UK response to the Iraqi Govt's request for support against ISIL. The Speaker has accepted my request to recall Parliament on Friday."
"Obviously, everything we do has to be with the authority of the Iraqi government, and has to be in accordance with our own law and has to be endorsed by Parliament," he added. 'Lawful'
IS has taken control of large areas of Iraq and Syria in recent months. In a statement, he added: "What we are doing is legal and it is right. It does not involve British combat troops on the ground."
Mr Fallon said there were no plans for Britain to take part in launching air strikes in Syria. Mr Cameron said that "when we are threatened in this way, we should not turn away from what needs to be done".
Visiting the US, David Cameron told NBC News the fight against Islamic State (IS) militants was one "you cannot opt out of". Deputy Prime Minister and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg told the BBC his party would support air strikes in Iraq because they were "legal" and the UK would be "part of a much bigger coalition, a whole array of countries, crucially including a number of Arab countries which deprives ISIL of the ability to somehow portray it as a west verses the rest crusade".
"It has oil, it has money, it has territory, it has weapons and there's no doubt in my mind it has already undertaken and is planning further plots in Europe and elsewhere," Mr Cameron said.
The US and five countries from the Gulf and Middle East have begun bombing IS in Syria.
How recalls happen - by Shelley Phelps, BBC political research unitHow recalls happen - by Shelley Phelps, BBC political research unit
If government ministers want the Commons to meet when it is in recess they must ask the speaker to make a decision on whether or not to recall MPs to Parliament. If government ministers want the Commons to meet when it is in recess they must ask the Speaker to make a decision on whether or not to recall MPs to Parliament.
If the speaker agrees that the request is in the public interest, he will then decide what time and day the Commons should meet and send out a notice to MPs. This can be issued as late as the day before the recall. If the Speaker agrees that the request is in the public interest, he will then decide what time and day the Commons should meet and send out a notice to MPs. This can be issued as late as the day before the recall.
MPs do not have the power to ask the speaker for the Commons to be recalled. MPs do not have the power to ask the Speaker for the Commons to be recalled.
The Commons was last recalled on 29 August 2013 to debate a motion on Syria. This was the 27th recall during a recess since 1948.The Commons was last recalled on 29 August 2013 to debate a motion on Syria. This was the 27th recall during a recess since 1948.
Labour leader Ed Miliband told BBC Breakfast he was "open to the possibility" of supporting air strikes against Islamic State in Iraq. Mr Cameron will open Friday's debate and Mr Clegg will close it.
"How will I judge any proposal? Whether Britain can have an effect, whether we can succeed and whether it is legitimate and lawful," he said. Meanwhile, the cabinet is meeting to discuss the situation on Thursday.
"Before I commit British combat troops I want to look at what the proposition is and the nature of that proposition." The US and five countries from the Gulf and Middle East have begun bombing IS in Syria.
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the threat from IS "can't be ignored". Mr Miliband told the BBC he was "open to the possibility" of supporting this action if it was "legitimate and lawful," he said.
Is was "a threat not just to the stability of the region, and not just a humanitarian threat, but potentially a threat to the UK in the sense it can harbour terrorism", he said. However, air strikes against IS in Syria would be likely to need a UN Security Council resolution to gain Labour support, he added.
However, air strikes against IS in Syria would be likely to need a UN Security Council resolution to gain Labour support, Mr Miliband added. Mr Cameron lost a Commons vote in August last year over proposed air strikes in response to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad's alleged use of chemical weapons.
His Labour colleague, shadow justice minister Sadiq Khan, said: "There's no point forming a view before we've heard the facts. We'll listen to what the prime minister says, making sure that it's legal, and form a view."
Home Secretary Theresa May said the government would look at "all the options" for dealing with the "brutality and barbarism" of IS.
She added that an action would "have an appropriate legal basis".
Mrs May said: "As home secretary I'm looking particularly at the powers that we need - whether there are any further powers that we need for dealing with people who are radicalised, for dealing with people who pose a direct terrorist threat to us here in the United Kingdom."
Mr Cameron lost a Commons vote in August last year over proposed air strikes in response to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's alleged use of chemical weapons.
BBC political editor Nick Robinson said that, because of Labour concerns, Parliament would be asked to approve UK involvement in military action in Iraq, but not in Syria.BBC political editor Nick Robinson said that, because of Labour concerns, Parliament would be asked to approve UK involvement in military action in Iraq, but not in Syria.
The UK is already providing arms and surveillance support to Kurdish forces who are battling IS.The UK is already providing arms and surveillance support to Kurdish forces who are battling IS.