Cameron to 'make case' for Britain to tackle IS in Syria

The Prime Minister has made a "compelling argument" for a bombing campaign against Islamic State targets in Syria, former Labour Home Secretary Alan Johnson has said.

Speaking to ITV News, Mr Johnson said that whilst he hadn't yet decided if he would vote for airstrikes and that there was widespread agreement in the House of Commons that something must be done about IS.

"He (Cameron) needs to do more about what happens next in terms of ground forces - and that's a concern I think right across the house," Johnson said.

The Foreign Affairs Select Committee has decided by a majority vote that they do not support the Prime Minister on proposed airstrikes against the so-called Islamic State in Syria, ITV News understands.

Britain will not be sending ground troops in to help in the battle against the so-called Islamic State militant group in Syria, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon told ITV News at Ten.

After David Cameron revealed he would "make the case" for the UK to join coalition forces carrying out airstrikes over the country, Mr Fallon said Western troops would "categorically" not be sent in.

Speaking to News at Ten presenter Tom Bradby, he insisted that such a move would be more likely to help radicalise civilians and end up helping IS.

Prime Minister David Cameron has vowed to "make the case" for Britain to join the coalition carrying out airstrikes against the so-called Islamic State in Syria.

But such a move would raise other questions - including what would be done to help civilians still living in the country.

ITV News international affairs editor Rageh Omaar explains what could happen if MPs vote yes:

Prime Minister David Cameron has revealed he will "make the case" for Britain to join its allies in tackling the so-called Islamic State militant group in Syria in the House of Commons on Thursday.

To date, Britain's efforts have focused solely on Iraq - but Mr Cameron told the House of Commons that they had to recognise their enemy did not respect the same national borders.

George Osborne has made it clear the government will only call a vote on UK military intervention in Syria when it is "confident" it has enough support to win the vote but uncertainty surrounds how MPs from other party's may vote.

The question now is whether or not the Labour party will let its members have a "free vote" over whether to bomb Syria.

ITV Political Correspondent Carl Dinnen reports:

Armed police were patrolling the Spurs ground at White Hart Lane for this afternoon's clash against West Ham.

It comes amid heightened security following last week's terror attacks in Paris, which left 130 people dead.

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