David Cameron has given the French Air Force the use of Britain’s RAF base in Cyprus as he promised the UK would do “all in our power” in the war against IS.
Speaking alongside Francois Hollande after talks in Paris, Mr Cameron said he firmly supported the French President’s strikes on Syria and added: “It is my firm conviction that Britain should do too.”
The Prime Minister announced the countries would increase counter-terrorism co-operation and called for an improvement in EU border checks and the sharing of airline information.
Ahead of the joint press conference, Mr Cameron stood “shoulder to shoulder” with the French President at the concert hall where 89 people were murdered by Islamic State terrorists.
The Prime Minister is likely to use the discussions with Mr Hollande to help persuade MPs to back a vote to expand the UK’s military role.
The United Nations Security Council has backed a French-drafted resolution urging countries to “combat by all means” the “unprecedented threat” of IS.
Mr Cameron said the vote “shows beyond doubt the breadth of international support for doing more in Syria and for decisive action to eradicate” IS.
The Prime Minister has been seeking to win the support of MPs for strikes in Syria with a series of briefings but has said he will not put the matter to the vote in the House of Commons until he is certain of victory because it would damage the UK’s global reputation.
But he said last week: “We cannot expect, we should not expect, others to carry the burdens and risks of protecting our country.”
Speaking to Sky News, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said the Government was briefing MPs and said: “We have to get out and convince, particularly new MPs, of the case.”
Mr Cameron is expected to deliver his plan for tackling IS on Thursday. It is understood that the first bombing raids against Islamic State would begin within hours of a “yes” vote.
The plan is a response to the findings of the influential Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, which warned against military involvement until there was an international strategy to end the conflict.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has made clear his opposition to strikes in Syria but on Monday shadow defence secretary Maria Eagle said it was “her understanding” Mr Corbyn was “not a pacifist” and it was “conceivable” he could vote for action.
Speaking on the Radio 4 Today programme, she said Mr Cameron could win some support from Labour MPs if he made a compelling case.
Speaking to Sky News last week, Mr Corbyn suggested that Labour MPs would not be given a free vote on Syria. However, at the weekend the shadow chancellor John McDonnell said they should be allowed to vote on conscience – putting the two men at odds.
Mr Corbyn has come under fire from his own MPs over his reaction to the Paris attacks.
AFP
