David Cameron is making the case for air strikes against IS in Syria, saying the aim is to "keep the British people safe" from terror attacks.
He faced calls to apologise for reportedly saying opponents of action were "terrorist sympathisers".
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the comment "demeans the office of prime minister".
The PM declined to apologise, but said there was "honour" in voting for or against military action.
The 10 hour Commons debate will end with a vote on whether the UK joins others such as France, the US and Russia in bombing targets in Syria.
The government motion would authorise air strikes "exclusively" against Islamic State - also known as Isis, Isil or Daesh - in Syria.
Mr Cameron said: "The question before the House today is how we keep the British people safe from the threat posed by Isil.
"This is not about whether we want to fight terrorism, it's about how best we do that."
Syria vote: Cameron says air strikes will make UK safer
BBC News
2 December 2015
Commons Speaker John Bercow revealed that 157 MPs have signalled they would like to speak in the marathon ten-hour debate which started at 10.30am
David Cameron is making the case for air strikes against IS in Syria, saying the aim is to "keep the British people safe" from terror attacks.
He faced calls to apologise for reportedly saying opponents of action were "terrorist sympathisers".
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the comment "demeans the office of prime minister".
The PM declined to apologise, but said there was "honour" in voting for or against military action.
The 10 hour Commons debate will end with a vote on whether the UK joins others such as France, the US and Russia in bombing targets in Syria.
The government motion would authorise air strikes "exclusively" against Islamic State - also known as Isis, Isil or Daesh - in Syria.
Mr Cameron said: "The question before the House today is how we keep the British people safe from the threat posed by Isil.
"This is not about whether we want to fight terrorism, it's about how best we do that."
David Cameron today repeatedly refused to apologise for calling MPs who oppose airstrikes in Syria 'terrorist sympathisers' as a marathon Commons debate on airstrikes got underway
He said MPs faced a simple question: "Do we work with our allies to degrade and destroy this threat and do we go after these terrorists in their heartlands from where they are plotting to kill British people, or do we sit back and wait for them to attack us?"
He called on MPs to "answer the call from our allies" and take action.
Mr Cameron said that in future the UK government would be referring to IS as Daesh as much as possible, because "this evil death cult is neither a true representation of Islam nor is it a state".
Daesh has negative connotations in the Middle East and is seen by some as a way of challenging the legitimacy of the group.
MPs will vote on RAF airstrikes after 10pm tonight, with at least 40 Labour MPs expected to back the government
Jeremy Corbyn emphasised the "potentially far-reaching consequences" of the government's vote on intervention in Syria
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn opposes bombing but has given MPs a free vote amid divisions within his own ranks.
He told MPs: "It is impossible to avoid the conclusion that the prime minister understands public opposition to his ill thought-out rush to war is growing - and wants to hold the vote before it slips from his hands.
"Whether it's the lack of a strategy worth the name, the absence of credible ground troops, the missing diplomatic plan for a Syrian settlement, the failure to address the impact on the terrorist threat or the refugee crisis and civilian casualties.
"It's become increasingly clear that the prime minister's proposals for military action simply do not stack up."
Mr Corbyn's aides say as many as 90 Labour MPs could back the government - and with both the Democratic Unionist Party and the Liberal Democrats backing action Mr Cameron is expected to win parliamentary approval for the UK to intervene militarily in the four-year conflict in Syria.
However, at least 110 MPs from six different parties - including the SNP, which opposes action - have already signed up to an amendment seeking to block air strikes.
Commons Speaker John Bercow said 157 MPs had applied to speak in the debate. A vote is expected at around 22:00 GMT.
Protesters, led by the Stop the War coalition, have taken to the streets of London to oppose bombing
The prime minister caused controversy on the eve of the vote by labelling Mr Corbyn and other opponents of action as "terrorist sympathisers".
The BBC's political editor Laura Kuenssberg said the comments were a departure from the "carefully crafted" language that Mr Cameron has used over the past week.
He faced calls to apologise for the comments at the start of the debate from Mr Corbyn and a string of Labour, SNP and Lib Dem MPs.
Mr Cameron said: "Everyone in this House should make up their mind on the arguments in this House and there's honour in voting for, there's honour in voting against.
"That is the way this House should operate and that's why I wanted to be absolutely clear at the start of my statement that this is about how we fight terrorism not whether we fight terrorism."
Addressing a meeting of the 1922 Conservative backbench committee, Mr Cameron warned that if Tory MPs voted against strikes they risked undermining a strong message that the UK was standing alongside its allies already engaged in military action.
According to BBC research, of the 640 MPs expected to vote, 362 MPs are in favour of the motion while 175 are against. Of the remainder, 19 are "leaning to" supporting the government, three are "leaning against" while 80 are undecided.
Wednesday's parliamentary schedule - including Prime Minister's Questions - has been scrapped to accommodate a whole day's debate on Syria.
The government says military action is "only one component of a broader strategy" to tackle IS and the UK government would not deploy troops on the ground.
Preparing for battle: Typhoon jets were seen taking off from RAF Marham in Norfolk yesterday ahead of the crucial vote on bombing Syria
Tests: The jets are believed to have flown across the country to the Mach Loop in Snowdonia, where the RAF practises low-level flying
Mr Cameron has been asked to explain his claim there are 70,000 "moderate" ground forces able to fight IS in Syria.
He told MPs the forces were "not ideal, not as many as we would like, but they are people we can work with".
He said that the 70,000 excluded another 25,000 fighters "who are fighting Daesh, but cannot and will not be our partners"
The UK is already providing intelligence, surveillance and other logistical support to countries fighting IS in Syria. The RAF has also carried out thousands of raids on IS targets in Iraq since Parliament approved similar action there last year.
Analysis
By Laura Kuenssberg, BBC political editor
Some nights in Westminster you can feel a crackle in the air, you can sense the tension, and sometimes even see the weight of responsibilities that MPs know they carry collectively in the looks on their faces. Last night was one of them.
For government ministers this vote has been a very long time coming, an obvious extension of the action British forces are taking in Iraq.
Bombing is, to them, part of a complicated set of solutions, but a straightforward decision to make. Don't confuse that however with a sentiment that it is an easy choice.
The run-up to the vote has been marked by a week of turmoil within the Labour Party.
Mr Corbyn has the support of the majority of his MPs but up to half of his shadow cabinet may vote in favour of bombing, including Shadow Foreign Secretary Hilary Benn and Deputy Leader Tom Watson.
The Labour leader urged those who take a different view to him to "think again", saying 75% of Labour members polled by the party indicated they opposed air strikes.
Party sources have claimed the number of Labour MPs likely to back the government is falling.
'Bombing Raqqa won't solve problem'
SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed her party's 54 MPs will be opposing air strikes, saying bombing on its own will not rid the threat of terrorism or bring peace to Syria.
But the DUP has said its eight MPs will support airstrikes and Lib Dem leader Tim Farron has said action is justified as part of "a measured, legal and broad-based international effort".
MPs rejected air strikes against Syrian government targets in 2013, but ministers say it is "illogical" to carry out strikes in Iraq but not Syria - as IS does not recognise the international border.
Thousands of protesters, led by the Stop the War coalition, took to the streets of London for the second time in four days on Tuesday to protest against bombing.
Syria vote: Cameron says air strikes will make UK safer - BBC News
He faced calls to apologise for reportedly saying opponents of action were "terrorist sympathisers".
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the comment "demeans the office of prime minister".
The PM declined to apologise, but said there was "honour" in voting for or against military action.
The 10 hour Commons debate will end with a vote on whether the UK joins others such as France, the US and Russia in bombing targets in Syria.
The government motion would authorise air strikes "exclusively" against Islamic State - also known as Isis, Isil or Daesh - in Syria.
Mr Cameron said: "The question before the House today is how we keep the British people safe from the threat posed by Isil.
"This is not about whether we want to fight terrorism, it's about how best we do that."
Syria vote: Cameron says air strikes will make UK safer
BBC News
2 December 2015
Commons Speaker John Bercow revealed that 157 MPs have signalled they would like to speak in the marathon ten-hour debate which started at 10.30am
David Cameron is making the case for air strikes against IS in Syria, saying the aim is to "keep the British people safe" from terror attacks.
He faced calls to apologise for reportedly saying opponents of action were "terrorist sympathisers".
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the comment "demeans the office of prime minister".
The PM declined to apologise, but said there was "honour" in voting for or against military action.
The 10 hour Commons debate will end with a vote on whether the UK joins others such as France, the US and Russia in bombing targets in Syria.
The government motion would authorise air strikes "exclusively" against Islamic State - also known as Isis, Isil or Daesh - in Syria.
Mr Cameron said: "The question before the House today is how we keep the British people safe from the threat posed by Isil.
"This is not about whether we want to fight terrorism, it's about how best we do that."
David Cameron today repeatedly refused to apologise for calling MPs who oppose airstrikes in Syria 'terrorist sympathisers' as a marathon Commons debate on airstrikes got underway
He said MPs faced a simple question: "Do we work with our allies to degrade and destroy this threat and do we go after these terrorists in their heartlands from where they are plotting to kill British people, or do we sit back and wait for them to attack us?"
He called on MPs to "answer the call from our allies" and take action.
Mr Cameron said that in future the UK government would be referring to IS as Daesh as much as possible, because "this evil death cult is neither a true representation of Islam nor is it a state".
Daesh has negative connotations in the Middle East and is seen by some as a way of challenging the legitimacy of the group.
MPs will vote on RAF airstrikes after 10pm tonight, with at least 40 Labour MPs expected to back the government
Jeremy Corbyn emphasised the "potentially far-reaching consequences" of the government's vote on intervention in Syria
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn opposes bombing but has given MPs a free vote amid divisions within his own ranks.
He told MPs: "It is impossible to avoid the conclusion that the prime minister understands public opposition to his ill thought-out rush to war is growing - and wants to hold the vote before it slips from his hands.
"Whether it's the lack of a strategy worth the name, the absence of credible ground troops, the missing diplomatic plan for a Syrian settlement, the failure to address the impact on the terrorist threat or the refugee crisis and civilian casualties.
"It's become increasingly clear that the prime minister's proposals for military action simply do not stack up."
Mr Corbyn's aides say as many as 90 Labour MPs could back the government - and with both the Democratic Unionist Party and the Liberal Democrats backing action Mr Cameron is expected to win parliamentary approval for the UK to intervene militarily in the four-year conflict in Syria.
However, at least 110 MPs from six different parties - including the SNP, which opposes action - have already signed up to an amendment seeking to block air strikes.
Commons Speaker John Bercow said 157 MPs had applied to speak in the debate. A vote is expected at around 22:00 GMT.
Protesters, led by the Stop the War coalition, have taken to the streets of London to oppose bombing
The prime minister caused controversy on the eve of the vote by labelling Mr Corbyn and other opponents of action as "terrorist sympathisers".
The BBC's political editor Laura Kuenssberg said the comments were a departure from the "carefully crafted" language that Mr Cameron has used over the past week.
He faced calls to apologise for the comments at the start of the debate from Mr Corbyn and a string of Labour, SNP and Lib Dem MPs.
Mr Cameron said: "Everyone in this House should make up their mind on the arguments in this House and there's honour in voting for, there's honour in voting against.
"That is the way this House should operate and that's why I wanted to be absolutely clear at the start of my statement that this is about how we fight terrorism not whether we fight terrorism."
Addressing a meeting of the 1922 Conservative backbench committee, Mr Cameron warned that if Tory MPs voted against strikes they risked undermining a strong message that the UK was standing alongside its allies already engaged in military action.
According to BBC research, of the 640 MPs expected to vote, 362 MPs are in favour of the motion while 175 are against. Of the remainder, 19 are "leaning to" supporting the government, three are "leaning against" while 80 are undecided.
Wednesday's parliamentary schedule - including Prime Minister's Questions - has been scrapped to accommodate a whole day's debate on Syria.
The government says military action is "only one component of a broader strategy" to tackle IS and the UK government would not deploy troops on the ground.
Preparing for battle: Typhoon jets were seen taking off from RAF Marham in Norfolk yesterday ahead of the crucial vote on bombing Syria
Tests: The jets are believed to have flown across the country to the Mach Loop in Snowdonia, where the RAF practises low-level flying
Mr Cameron has been asked to explain his claim there are 70,000 "moderate" ground forces able to fight IS in Syria.
He told MPs the forces were "not ideal, not as many as we would like, but they are people we can work with".
He said that the 70,000 excluded another 25,000 fighters "who are fighting Daesh, but cannot and will not be our partners"
The UK is already providing intelligence, surveillance and other logistical support to countries fighting IS in Syria. The RAF has also carried out thousands of raids on IS targets in Iraq since Parliament approved similar action there last year.
Analysis
By Laura Kuenssberg, BBC political editor
Some nights in Westminster you can feel a crackle in the air, you can sense the tension, and sometimes even see the weight of responsibilities that MPs know they carry collectively in the looks on their faces. Last night was one of them.
For government ministers this vote has been a very long time coming, an obvious extension of the action British forces are taking in Iraq.
Bombing is, to them, part of a complicated set of solutions, but a straightforward decision to make. Don't confuse that however with a sentiment that it is an easy choice.
The run-up to the vote has been marked by a week of turmoil within the Labour Party.
Mr Corbyn has the support of the majority of his MPs but up to half of his shadow cabinet may vote in favour of bombing, including Shadow Foreign Secretary Hilary Benn and Deputy Leader Tom Watson.
The Labour leader urged those who take a different view to him to "think again", saying 75% of Labour members polled by the party indicated they opposed air strikes.
Party sources have claimed the number of Labour MPs likely to back the government is falling.
'Bombing Raqqa won't solve problem'
SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed her party's 54 MPs will be opposing air strikes, saying bombing on its own will not rid the threat of terrorism or bring peace to Syria.
But the DUP has said its eight MPs will support airstrikes and Lib Dem leader Tim Farron has said action is justified as part of "a measured, legal and broad-based international effort".
MPs rejected air strikes against Syrian government targets in 2013, but ministers say it is "illogical" to carry out strikes in Iraq but not Syria - as IS does not recognise the international border.
Thousands of protesters, led by the Stop the War coalition, took to the streets of London for the second time in four days on Tuesday to protest against bombing.
Syria vote: Cameron says air strikes will make UK safer - BBC News
Last edited:
