Iraq Airstrikes: MPs Start Debating IS Raids

Islamic State are "psycopathic terrorists trying to kill us", said David Cameron as he argued the case for airstrikes in Iraq.

The Prime Minister, seeking to rally support among MPs at Westminster for bombing raids against the Islamist extremists, said the terror group, also known as ISIL, had "already declared war on us".

He told the Commons debate Islamic State "have already murdered one British hostage and is threatening the lives of two more".

Mr Cameron described IS as "a terrorist organisation unlike those we have dealt with before".

The US has already been carrying out raids against IS in Iraq and Syria

He said: "The brutality is staggering - beheadings, crucifixions, the gouging out of eyes, the use of rape as a weapon, the slaughter of children. All of these things belong to the dark ages.

"This is not a threat on the far side of the world. Left unchecked we will face a terrorist caliphate on the shores of the Mediterranean and bordering a NATO member with a declared and a proven determination to attack our country and our people."

The PM said the shadow of the 2003 decision to join the US-led invasion of Iraq "hangs heavy" over the vote, but told MPs: "We must not use past mistakes as an excuse for indifference or inaction."

IS militants have been branded 'psycopathic terrorists' by the PM

Labour leader Ed Miliband said he understood the deep unease felt about taking action, but said the UK could not stand by in the face of the threat from IS.

"ISIL is not simply a murderous organisation; it has ambitions for a state of its own - a caliphate across the Middle East, run according to their horrific norms and values," he said.

But in a typically firebrand intervention, the outspoken Respect MP George Galloway argued bombing would not work, and stressed the need to strengthen ground forces in the region.

He said: "ISIL is a death cult, it's a gang of terrorist murderers. It's not an army and it's certainly not an army that's going to be destroyed by aerial bombardment."

Former Tory defence secretary Liam Fox argued the plan for airstrikes did not go far enough by not including Syria, while the ex-Labour cabinet minister Hazel Blears described the government proposal for action as "minimalist".

The Cabinet unanimously backed military action against IS on Thursday, and the Government is expected to secure the backing of most MPs for airstrikes in Iraq, which senior ministers have warned could last up to three years.

The widow of UK aid worker David Haines, who was beheaded on film by his captors, has also backed targeted British airstrikes.

Operations could begin within hours of a vote in the Commons, which is due at around 5pm.

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

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

Meanwhile, Denmark announced it was sending seven F-16 planes to join the coalition fight against IS in Iraq.

Shortly before the debate, the Home Secretary Theresa May announced the under-fire Passport Office was to be brought into the Home Office and made directly accountable to ministers - a move that led to accusations of the department seeking to "bury bad news".

:: Watch the Commons debate on Sky News Sky 501, Virgin Media 602, Freesat 202, Freeview 132.

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