Cameron announces vote on British air strikes in Syria: 'They are the right thing to do to keep our country safe'

David Cameron has called for a vote on UK military action in Syria to take place in the House of Commons on Wednesday.

The Prime Minister's decision to call a vote comes after Labour MPs were granted a free vote on military action, which Mr Cameron hopes will enable him to secure the "clear majority" he wants.

Labour's decision was made during a shadow cabinet meeting to decide the party's stance on extending military operations against Isis.

Mr Cameron said he would put his plan to Cabinet at its regular meeting on Tuesday.

Speaking shortly after his return from the climate summit in Paris, Mr Cameron he believed there was "growing support across Parliament for the compelling case there is to answer the call from our allies to act against Isil in Syria and Iraq".

Confining RAF action to Iraq "makes no sense" when Isis itself does not recognise its border with Syria, he said.

He added: "It is in the national interest, it is the right thing to do, we will be acting with our allies, we will be careful and responsible as we do so, but in my view its the right thing to do this to keep our country safe."

Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond says he is confident MPs will support British airstrikes in Syria.

Speaking at the Foreign Office, he said: "I am confident that when we bring this matter to a vote in Parliament we will now see a majority of parliamentarians supporting the action."

A one-day debate is expected in the Houses of Parliament on Wednesday.

Mr Hammond said the Government has been building a coalition in favour of airstrikes in Parliament.

He added: "During the course of today there has been significant progress in the task of building a coalition in Parliament in favour of airstrikes in Syria and ensuring that when it comes to a vote that coalition is able to find its voice.

"The equipment to be deployed will be determined by military considerations and may vary from time to time but broadly speaking we are expecting to increase the deployment of Tornados that we have already deployed to Akrotiri and supplement it with a deployment of Typhoon Eurofighter aircraft.

Labour will offer its MPs a free vote on whether Britain should start bombing operations against Isis in Syria.

Jeremy Corbyn has also written to the Prime Minister to ask for a two-day debate on the issue so no "important contributions" are cut short.

When asked why he had not complied with Mr Corbyn's request for a two-day debate, Mr Cameron said: " We will make sure that we have a very long and full debate on Wednesday and we will take the action necessary to make sure we have, in many ways, the equivalent number of questions we would often have across a two day debate in one day.

"I want MPs to be able to have full consideration, to make speeches, to make points, to ask me questions, to examine the Government's case."