MPs Set To Approve UK Airstrikes In Iraq

By Jon Craig, Chief Political Correspondent

David Cameron is poised to win support from MPs for airstrikes in Iraq which senior ministers have warned could last up to three years.

Bombing raids involving RAF planes could begin within hours of a vote in the Commons which is expected to be overwhelmingly in favour of bombing raids.

Desperate to avoid a repeat of the Commons defeat over airstrikes against Syria last year, the PM is proposing a cautiously-worded motion intended to win support from all parties.

"This motion does not endorse UK airstrikes in Syria as part of this campaign, and any proposal to do so would be subject to a separate vote in Parliament," it states.

David Cameron says airstrikes will only target Iraq, not Syria

And it adds: "Her Majesty's Government will not deploy UK troops in ground combat operations."

Mr Cameron goes into the debate with an opinion poll suggesting voters strongly back airstrikes in Iraq, but would also support attacks against Syria.

A YouGov survey for The Sun shows the largest support yet for RAF airstrikes in Iraq, with 57% now in favour and just 24% against.

But it also suggests voters support bombing raids against ISIL in Syria by 51% to 26%, even though Mr Cameron has already ruled this out for now.

The poll findings are a complete turnaround from 13 months ago, when voters opposed airstrikes on Syria's President Bashar al Assad by two-to-one.

The UK strikes would follow raids by US planes in Syria and Iraq

The Cabinet met for 90 minutes yesterday and "unanimously" backed airstrikes in Iraq.

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon suggested that the campaign against IS could be a "long haul" of "two to three years".

He told Parliament's House magazine: "(US Secretary of State) John Kerry has estimated two to three years, that looks like a long haul to me.

"But we have to face up to this. This kind of extremism has been spreading, taking root in democracies."

After the Cabinet meeting, Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said the Government was confident Parliament would approve the Government's motion.

Tory MP Bob Stewart says the UK must 'annihilate' the militants

He stressed that Britain's role would currently be limited to airstrikes in Iraq.

"There will be a ground operation. It's just that we will not be providing ground combat troops," Mr Hammond said.

"We are very clear about that. Not only because we don't think, frankly, public opinion would support such involvement.

"But also we don't think such an involvement would be helpful.

"If we were to put large numbers of Western troops into Iraq now that would simply feed Isil's narrative.

"If ground forces are needed they have to come from regional countries - primarily from Iraq itself."

Asked whether the action could be extended into Syria at a later stage, Mr Hammond replied: "We haven't ruled out anything for the future.

Chief of Defence Staff General Nick Houghton (L) and Phillip Hammond

"We will have to see how the struggle against Isil goes.

"But the important thing... is that if we were to decide at some point in the future that it would be right to conduct airstrikes in Syria then we would come back to the House of Commons, there would be another debate - all the issues around that would be fully discussed and a decision made at that time."

Although the Labour leader Ed Miliband has said his MPs will support the Government in the vote, some anti-war left-wing MPs are expected to force a vote and oppose military action.

On the eve of the debate, left-wing Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn handed in a petition at 10 Downing Street opposing bombing raids.

But some Conservative MPs want the Government to go further and deploy raids on Syria and commit troops.

Bob Stewart, a member of the Commons Defence Committee and a former British commander in Bosnia, said IS had to be defeated in its birthplace in Syria.

"The truth is, as everyone knows, the only way to get rid of this menace is to beat it on the ground, drive them out, annihilate them or capture them," he said.

"We mustn't rule out the option of using our armed forces if our country is threatened enough that we need to do so."

Former defence minister Sir Gerald Howarth added: "If you don't attack their bases in Syria, then clearly you are not addressing it.

"One will be left with the taste in the mouth that we are leaving it to the Americans to do the dirty end of the job."

:: The Commons debate will begin at 10.30am with the vote expected at around 5pm. Watch on Sky News Sky 501, Virgin Media 602, Freesat 202, Freeview 132.

:: Live coverage will also available on sky.com/news and Sky News for iPad and on your mobile phone.

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