This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-29366007
The article has changed 19 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| House of Commons to vote on UK air strikes against IS in Iraq | House of Commons to vote on UK air strikes against IS in Iraq |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| MPs will vote later on whether the UK should join US-led air strikes on Islamic State (IS) in Iraq. | MPs will vote later on whether the UK should join US-led air strikes on Islamic State (IS) in Iraq. |
| The Tories, Liberal Democrats and Labour all back action, which the coalition says is legal because it was requested by the Iraqi government. | The Tories, Liberal Democrats and Labour all back action, which the coalition says is legal because it was requested by the Iraqi government. |
| In an interview with political magazine The House, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said the campaign could be a "long haul" of "two to three years". | In an interview with political magazine The House, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said the campaign could be a "long haul" of "two to three years". |
| IS has seized large parts of Iraq and Syria in recent months. | IS has seized large parts of Iraq and Syria in recent months. |
| The UK government is not proposing any involvement in air strikes on Syria. | The UK government is not proposing any involvement in air strikes on Syria. |
| On Thursday, about 250 people protested outside the gates of Downing Street against the possibility of military action in Iraq. | On Thursday, about 250 people protested outside the gates of Downing Street against the possibility of military action in Iraq. |
| Some MPs also oppose the military action. | Some MPs also oppose the military action. |
| Labour's Diane Abbott, Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell signed a letter to the Guardian which said bombing Iraq would "only exacerbate the situation". | Labour's Diane Abbott, Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell signed a letter to the Guardian which said bombing Iraq would "only exacerbate the situation". |
| "We urge the government to rule out any further military action in Iraq or Syria," they said. | "We urge the government to rule out any further military action in Iraq or Syria," they said. |
| The Commons has been recalled from its four-week break for the Scottish independence referendum and party conferences to deal with the developing situation. | The Commons has been recalled from its four-week break for the Scottish independence referendum and party conferences to deal with the developing situation. |
| Prime Minister David Cameron will open the debate at 10:30 BST (09:30 GMT) - it is expected to last seven hours. | Prime Minister David Cameron will open the debate at 10:30 BST (09:30 GMT) - it is expected to last seven hours. |
| The government does not have to seek the approval of MPs to commence military action, but it has become customary to do so since this first happened over the Iraq war in 2003. | The government does not have to seek the approval of MPs to commence military action, but it has become customary to do so since this first happened over the Iraq war in 2003. |
| Analysis | Analysis |
| by Sean Curran, parliamentary correspondent | by Sean Curran, parliamentary correspondent |
| When David Cameron stands up at the dispatch box to open the debate about military action he will know that the result of the Commons vote is not in doubt. | When David Cameron stands up at the dispatch box to open the debate about military action he will know that the result of the Commons vote is not in doubt. |
| We are not about to see a repeat of the scenes at the end of August last year when a government's proposal to consider military action against Syria was rejected at the end of another emergency debate. | We are not about to see a repeat of the scenes at the end of August last year when a government's proposal to consider military action against Syria was rejected at the end of another emergency debate. |
| This time there's agreement between the three largest parties at Westminster, but that doesn't mean there won't be a real debate. | This time there's agreement between the three largest parties at Westminster, but that doesn't mean there won't be a real debate. |
| Some MPs are opposed to military action and will argue and vote against the motion. | Some MPs are opposed to military action and will argue and vote against the motion. |
| That motion spells out that the Commons is not being asked to endorse air strikes in Syria and we can expect questions and concerns about what would happen in the future. | That motion spells out that the Commons is not being asked to endorse air strikes in Syria and we can expect questions and concerns about what would happen in the future. |
| UK military action and Iraq | |
| Black market | Black market |
| Its motion specifically rules out any attacks on IS in Syria, following the Commons' rejection of joining in air strikes in that country last year. Any action there would require a separate vote. | Its motion specifically rules out any attacks on IS in Syria, following the Commons' rejection of joining in air strikes in that country last year. Any action there would require a separate vote. |
| Downing Street said UK forces could join the bombing of targets in Iraq after the Iraqi minister of foreign affairs wrote to the United Nations seeking international assistance. | Downing Street said UK forces could join the bombing of targets in Iraq after the Iraqi minister of foreign affairs wrote to the United Nations seeking international assistance. |
| Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond reiterated on Thursday that any ground campaign against IS would not involve UK troops. | Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond reiterated on Thursday that any ground campaign against IS would not involve UK troops. |
| The US began a series of air strikes in Iraq last month, and on Monday it began attacks on targets in Syria. | The US began a series of air strikes in Iraq last month, and on Monday it began attacks on targets in Syria. |
| Pentagon spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby said the purpose of the Syria strikes was "not necessarily to kill militants" but to destroy the facilities - including oil refineries - which were funding IS through the black market. | Pentagon spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby said the purpose of the Syria strikes was "not necessarily to kill militants" but to destroy the facilities - including oil refineries - which were funding IS through the black market. |
| Jets from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have joined US forces in the attacks, and the US says more than 40 countries have offered to join the anti-IS coalition. | Jets from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have joined US forces in the attacks, and the US says more than 40 countries have offered to join the anti-IS coalition. |
| IS has threatened to kill British hostage Alan Henning, whose wife pleaded for his release on Tuesday. The threat was made in a video showing the beheading of British aid worker David Haines earlier this month. | IS has threatened to kill British hostage Alan Henning, whose wife pleaded for his release on Tuesday. The threat was made in a video showing the beheading of British aid worker David Haines earlier this month. |
| Mr Haines's daughter, Bethany, has told ITV News IS must be "eradicated". | Mr Haines's daughter, Bethany, has told ITV News IS must be "eradicated". |
| Also on Tuesday, IS released a second video showing UK journalist John Cantlie. | Also on Tuesday, IS released a second video showing UK journalist John Cantlie. |
| Meanwhile, in the US, FBI director James Corney says the bureau has identified the man referred to in the British press as "Jihadi John". | Meanwhile, in the US, FBI director James Corney says the bureau has identified the man referred to in the British press as "Jihadi John". |
| BBC security correspondent Gordon Corera said UK security services were frustrated at the FBI comments. | BBC security correspondent Gordon Corera said UK security services were frustrated at the FBI comments. |
| He said UK authorities "may well" have known the suspect's identity for weeks, but they wanted to gather as much intelligence as possible without "tipping their hand as to what they knew". | He said UK authorities "may well" have known the suspect's identity for weeks, but they wanted to gather as much intelligence as possible without "tipping their hand as to what they knew". |
| The suspected militant - whom the FBI is not naming at present - is thought to have appeared in IS beheading videos. | The suspected militant - whom the FBI is not naming at present - is thought to have appeared in IS beheading videos. |
| Speaking at the UN in New York on Wednesday evening (Thursday morning UK time), Mr Cameron said countries must stop their citizens travelling to join jihadist groups. | Speaking at the UN in New York on Wednesday evening (Thursday morning UK time), Mr Cameron said countries must stop their citizens travelling to join jihadist groups. |
| The EU's anti-terrorism chief, Gilles de Kerchove, has said more than 3,000 Europeans have joined Islamist fighters in Syria and Iraq, and Mr Cameron said 500 Britons had joined IS. | |
| These apparently included Ibrahim Kamara, 19, from Brighton, whose mother Khadijah told the BBC her son had been killed in a US air strike in Syria on Monday. | These apparently included Ibrahim Kamara, 19, from Brighton, whose mother Khadijah told the BBC her son had been killed in a US air strike in Syria on Monday. |
| She said her son, who had apparently joined al-Qaeda affiliate group Jabhat al-Nusra, had been "brainwashed". | She said her son, who had apparently joined al-Qaeda affiliate group Jabhat al-Nusra, had been "brainwashed". |
| Jihadist speaks | Jihadist speaks |
| Amer Deghayes, from Brighton, said he travelled to Syria with Ibrahim Kamara to join Jabhat al-Nusra. | Amer Deghayes, from Brighton, said he travelled to Syria with Ibrahim Kamara to join Jabhat al-Nusra. |
| Speaking to BBC Newsnight from Syria, Mr Deghayes said Mr Kamara was "soft-hearted" and a "funny guy" who wanted to help people. | Speaking to BBC Newsnight from Syria, Mr Deghayes said Mr Kamara was "soft-hearted" and a "funny guy" who wanted to help people. |
| "He was just a normal Muslim lad," he said. | "He was just a normal Muslim lad," he said. |
| "He learned about his duty towards the people that are being oppressed, people that are being attacked because they're Muslims and he saw that the solution is jihad." | "He learned about his duty towards the people that are being oppressed, people that are being attacked because they're Muslims and he saw that the solution is jihad." |
| Mr Deghayes said he understood why his friend's family were upset, but said Mr Kamara had been granted a "honour" by Allah. | Mr Deghayes said he understood why his friend's family were upset, but said Mr Kamara had been granted a "honour" by Allah. |
| "Ibrahim has always been a person that asked for martyrdom," he said. | "Ibrahim has always been a person that asked for martyrdom," he said. |
| He said if the family did not "understand", it was because they did not have "the knowledge of the virtues of jihad and the virtues of martyrdom". | He said if the family did not "understand", it was because they did not have "the knowledge of the virtues of jihad and the virtues of martyrdom". |
| Mr Deghayes said he was friends with at least three other British fighters who were killed in Monday's air strikes, but he refused to reveal their identities. | Mr Deghayes said he was friends with at least three other British fighters who were killed in Monday's air strikes, but he refused to reveal their identities. |
| Full text of the government's Commons motion | Full text of the government's Commons motion |
| That this House: | That this House: |
| Condemns the barbaric acts of ISIL against the peoples of Iraq including the Sunni, Shia, Kurds, Christians and Yazidi and the humanitarian crisis this is causing; | Condemns the barbaric acts of ISIL against the peoples of Iraq including the Sunni, Shia, Kurds, Christians and Yazidi and the humanitarian crisis this is causing; |
| Recognises the clear threat ISIL pose to the territorial integrity of Iraq and the request from the government of Iraq for military support from the international community and the specific request to the UK government for such support; | Recognises the clear threat ISIL pose to the territorial integrity of Iraq and the request from the government of Iraq for military support from the international community and the specific request to the UK government for such support; |
| Further recognises the threat ISIL poses to wider international security and the UK directly through its sponsorship of terrorist attacks and its murder of a British hostage; | Further recognises the threat ISIL poses to wider international security and the UK directly through its sponsorship of terrorist attacks and its murder of a British hostage; |
| Acknowledges the broad coalition contributing to military support of the government of Iraq, including countries throughout the Middle East; | Acknowledges the broad coalition contributing to military support of the government of Iraq, including countries throughout the Middle East; |
| Further acknowledges the request of the government of Iraq for international support to defend itself against the threat ISIL poses to Iraq and its citizens, and the clear legal basis that this provides for action in Iraq; | Further acknowledges the request of the government of Iraq for international support to defend itself against the threat ISIL poses to Iraq and its citizens, and the clear legal basis that this provides for action in Iraq; |
| Notes that this motion does not endorse UK air strikes in Syria as part of this campaign, and any proposal to do so would be subject to a separate vote in Parliament; | Notes that this motion does not endorse UK air strikes in Syria as part of this campaign, and any proposal to do so would be subject to a separate vote in Parliament; |
| Accordingly supports Her Majesty's Government, working with allies, in supporting the government of Iraq in protecting civilians and restoring its territorial integrity, including the use of UK air strikes to support Iraqi, including Kurdish, security forces' efforts against ISIL in Iraq; | Accordingly supports Her Majesty's Government, working with allies, in supporting the government of Iraq in protecting civilians and restoring its territorial integrity, including the use of UK air strikes to support Iraqi, including Kurdish, security forces' efforts against ISIL in Iraq; |
| Notes that Her Majesty's Government will not deploy UK troops in ground combat operations; | Notes that Her Majesty's Government will not deploy UK troops in ground combat operations; |
| Offers its wholehearted support to the men and women of Her Majesty's armed forces. | Offers its wholehearted support to the men and women of Her Majesty's armed forces. |