Britain's 'free vote': Parliament to debate on Syrian airstrikes

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Britain’s ‘free vote’: Parliament to debate on Syrian airstrikes

Prime Minister David Cameron called for a debate and vote in Parliament on Wednesday on whether Britain should launch airstrikes against militants in Syria, arguing that the nation must stand with its allies in confronting extremism. Cameron’s statement on Monday comes only hours after opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn decided that Labor Party lawmakers would be allowed to vote their conscience on the matter. Corbyn, who is opposed to the action, told Members of Parliament he would allow a so-called free vote — breaking with a tradition for leaders to instruct MPs on how to vote on major decisions. The move by the Labor leader gave Cameron confidence he had the votes to clinch an expansion of the mandate of British forces to hit Islamic State group militants not just in Iraq, but in Syria as well.

Cameron has repeatedly said that he wouldn’t take the matter to Parliament unless he could be certain of victory, worrying that Britain’s prestige would be at risk. If the measure is approved in Parliament, British military operations are expected to start shortly afterward.