- The debate in the House of Commons starts at 11.30 a.m. GMT and lasts until 10 p.m.
- Politicians will vote on whether to bomb ISIS in Syria around 10 p.m. this evening
- The latest YouGov poll shows that 48% of Britons approve air strikes, 31% disapprove, while the rest remained undecided as of December 1.
The live feed from the House of Commons debate is here:
Britain's government just started the debate on whether the country should join the alliance with the US in bombing ISIS (also known as the Islamic State) in Syria.
The debate, which was given the green light only yesterday, will last for 10.5 hours and will be immediately followed by a vote. The Conservative-led government indicated that if the vote results in approval for a bombing campaign in Syria, British fighter jets could be deployed by the end of this week.
It is largely believed that politicians will approve the air strike action on Syria because Prime Minister David Cameron said last week that he would only push for vote if he was almost certain it would go ahead. He said that risking a no vote could end up being a propaganda win for ISIS militants.
TERMINOLOGY IS A HUGE PART OF THE DEBATE
David Cameron said "having carefully considered from France, the Arab League and others, I feel it is time to refer to ISIL as Daesh.
One MP asked Cameron to speak to the BBC who allegedly told politicians that it cannot use the word "Daesh" because it breaches impartiality.
Cameron said "I agree with the honourable gentlemen about the BBC's use of the terminology as IS or Islamic State is wrong."
BBC did a good short video here about why ISIS has different different names:
"BRITISH TROOPS ON THE GROUND WOULD BE A MISTAKE"
Nigel Dodds, the DUP MP, asks whether Cameron would call another vote if Britain decided to put troops on the ground. Cameron said:
"It is not only not what I want to do but I think, if we did would be a mistake. The argument made to us by the Iraq government is that on the ground British troops can be radicalising and not a good idea.
This will mean though our strategy will take longer because you have to rely on Iraq ground troops, the patchwork Free Syrian Army troops, and Syrian troops from a transitional regime."
CAMERON ON MITIGATING CIVILIAN CASUALTIES
The Prime Minister said:
"In Iraq for a year and three months, there were no reports of civilian casualtiies that resulted from Britain's air strikes. Our aim is to avoid civilian casualities altogether. With our weapons precision and skilled forces, [air strikes] can be affective in prosecuting campaign against ISIL."
LABOUR CALLS FOR CAMERON TO APOLOGISE OVER CORBYN A "TERRORIST SYMPATHISER"
Cameron doesn't apologise but says:
Everyone in this house should make up their minds after the debate in this house. There is honour in voting yes and no.
"IT IS NOT ABOUT WHETHER TO FIGHT TERRORISM, IS IT ABOUT HOW TO FIGHT TERRORISM"
- 157 to speak today
- There will be 5 minute limit on back bench speeches
Labour kicks off with criticising the government for only holding a one day debate, instead of two.
Debate: ISIL in Syria (United Nations Security Council Resolution 2249) (Motion) - kicks off with David Cameron:
"Today it is about how we keep the British people safe from the threat of ISIL. It is not whether to fight terrorism but it is how to fight terrorism. I respect people to come to a different view and vote accoridngly and a reassurance to members to those across the house."
"I am not pretending that the answer is simple. Neither am I pretending military action is more than one part of the answer. We should pursue a comprehensive strategy."
LABOUR IS IN DISARRAY OVER THE FREE VOTE
The latest polls show that the leader of the Labour party Jeremy Corbyn has haemorrhaged support since he delivered a public letter condemning the potential bombing campaign in Syria.
However, the YouGov poll shows that there are more Labour politicians in favour of supporting an air strike in Syria.
Meanwhile, Labour MP Diana Johnson said politicians who approve the bombing campaign will have blood on their hands:
Another Labour MP John Mann said earlier today that Corbyn should expel party members that back the air strike campaign:
The level of abuse over the last four months is on a totally, totally different scale from anything ever before. It is directly linked to people purporting to support Jeremy. He should remove this intolerant minority. They have no place in a progressive left-wing party. None of them have been disciplined yet, never mind expelled and he should start doing so.
It is deliberate bullying. I have received tweets and emails, some are random but some seem to be orchestrated by groups both inside and outside the party. Threats of deselection are at the mild end of it. There is every kind of name-calling you can think of. There is no place in the Labour Party for people who are going to abuse others in the run-up to an important debate and vote.
However, MailOnline's political editor tweeted that Prime Minister David Cameron's comments over Corbyn being a terrorist sympathiser is boosting support for Labour:
HOW POLITICIANS ARE VOTING
This how a YouGov poll places approval and disapproval for air strike action against ISIS in Syria:
- 360 MPs, including 50 from the Labour benches, are in favour of a bombing while 170 are against.
LATEST POLL RESULTS
A YouGov poll published this morning delivered some key points as to where the public, politicians and the main party leaders stand on the issue:
- Most of the public support a bombing on Syria — but approval is slipping: 48% approve, 31% disapprove, while the rest are undecided.
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Those who voted Labour in May have now changed their minds — moving from majority support: On November 17, 52% approved of RAF air strikes on ISIS in Syria while 26% opposed it. As of December 1, 35% now approve while 42% disapprove.
- Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the Labour party, is bleeding in approval ratings: Only 24% say he is doing well as a leader and 65% say he is doing badly.
- Approval ratings for Prime Minister David Cameron, and leader of the Conservative party, is neutral but diminishing Labour support is boosting support for the Tories: Recent voting intention figures put Conservatives at 41% to Labour's 30%. This lead of 11 is a four point improvement on the general election result.
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