The issue of military action in Syria is a very serious matter.
The scale of the threat that we face from Daesh is unprecedented. They have brutally murdered British hostages and have carried out the worst terrorist attack against British people since 7/7 on the beaches of Tunisia. In the last year our security services have foiled seven different plots linked to or inspired by Daesh. The Paris attacks brought this terror to our doorstep. The answers to this are not simple but I am in no doubt that it is in our national interest for action to be taken to stop them. British aircraft are already undertaking airstrikes over Iraq but it is in Syria that Daesh has its headquarters. They do not respect a border between Iraq and Syria and neither should we.
The United Nations has passed a resolution which states that Daesh "constitutes a global and unprecedented threat to international peace and security" and calls for "all necessary measures" to prevent and suppress terrorist acts committed specifically by Daesh. Crucially, it says that we should "eradicate the safe haven they have established over significant parts of Iraq and Syria".
I recognise that we cannot defeat Daesh with military action alone. It must be part of an approach based on a counter-extremism strategy to prevent attacks at home, a diplomatic and political process with our allies, and post-conflict stabilisation and reconstruction which will allow millions of Syrians refugees to be able to return home. Peace is a process, not an event, and along with MPs from all sides of the House of Commons, I believe the process must start with targeting and defeating Daesh in the areas of Syria and Iraq that they occupy and terrorise.
In conclusion, Daesh has been prevented from attacking the UK mainland but has killed Britons in both Paris and Tunisia. Daesh want to kill us for who we are, not what we do. They hold our values, our democracy and our tolerant beliefs in contempt. They know no boundaries and are not interested in "discussion" - so I reject any view that bombing will lead to further terrorist acts. The United Kingdom has always stood up to defend our values, our way of life and the peace and security of others. We can, and must, do so again in order to prevent further atrocities.