David Cameron drops plans to hold vote on airstrikes on Isis in Syria

David Cameron drops plans to hold vote on airstrikes on Isis in Syria

David Cameron is to shelve plans to call a House of Commons vote to approve British airstrikes against Islamic State (Isis) targets in Syria in a belief that he has failed to win over enough Labour MPs and a recognition that Russia’s military intervention has complicated the picture.

Downing Street has decided that RAF involvement in coalition airstrikes against Isis targets should not be extended from Iraq. There are fears that the prime minister would be weakened on the world stage by a second parliamentary defeat over military action in Syria.

Ministers had been discussing a potential Commons motion with Labour MPs as recently as 10 days ago, but the government has undergone a change of heart after failing to win the support of sufficient Labour MPs to be confident that it can overcome what is likely to be a sizeable Tory rebellion.

It is estimated that between 20 to 30 Labour MPs would be prepared to vote in favour of strikes – about the same number of Tory MPs who would rebel against the prime minister.