Britain PM David Cameron ups pressure on MPs for Syria strikes vote

London, Nov 23: David Cameron vowed today to make his case for Britain joining air strikes on Syria this week as he unveiled a new defence strategy stressing counter-terrorism and intelligence. Cam

London, Nov 23: David Cameron vowed today to make his case for Britain joining air strikes on Syria this week as he unveiled a new defence strategy stressing counter-terrorism and intelligence.

Cameron said he would make a statement in the House of Commons on Thursday as he steps up pressure for MPs to vote in favour of joining international action against Islamic State jihadists following the November 13 attacks in Paris, which killed 130 people. (ALSO READ: British PM David Cameron outlines national response to terror threat)

His comments came as he presented the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR), which maps Britain’s military strategy for the next five years. “As the murders on the streets of Paris reminded us so starkly, ISIL (another term for IS) is not some remote problem thousands of miles away  it is a direct threat to our security at home and abroad,” Cameron said.

“History teaches us that no government can predict the future… But we can make sure that we have the versatility and the means to respond to new risks and threats to our security as they arise.” Cameron earlier on Monday visited Paris, where he met President Francois Hollande and paid tribute outside the Bataclan concert venue, where 90 people were killed.

“I firmly support the action President Hollande has taken to strike ISIL in Syria,” Cameron said after talks in Paris. “It’s my firm conviction that Britain should do so too,” he added.

In his speech to parliament, Cameron also announced details of “a significant new contingency plan” in case of attacks in Britain, which would include the rapid deployment of 10,000 military personnel to support the police. While British forces are taking part in air strikes on IS targets in Iraq, they are not involved in the international effort targeting Syria due to resistance from opposition parties still mindful of unpopular interventions in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Labour’s anti-war leader Jeremy Corbyn is against any military action but Cameron appears increasingly confident that he can get enough support from Labour MPs to pass the vote, particularly after last week’s UN Security Council resolution authorising countries to “take all necessary measures” against IS.

A Times/YouGov opinion poll last week found that 58 percent of people would approve of Britain joining air strikes on targets in Syria compared to 22 percent against.

Labour’s shadow defence minister Maria Eagle also on Monday told BBC radio that “there will be some support from the Labour party for him (Cameron) to do what he wishes” if they approve of his plan. Reports suggest the government could call a vote on the issue as early as the end of next week if ministers are confident of winning it.