MPs Could Vote On Syria Airstrikes Next Week

MPs could be asked to vote on the UK joining airstrikes in Syria as soon as next week, Sky News understands.

David Cameron will present his blueprint for Britain's part in the war against Islamic State on Thursday - but no vote had been expected until Number 10 felt certain it would not suffer a second Commons defeat on the issue.

However, a number of senior Labour MPs have now indicted they could be persuaded to back the Prime Minister despite their leader Jeremy Corbyn's anti-war stance .

Dan Jarvis, a former member of the shadow cabinet and ex-Army major, outlined his five conditions for supporting the extension of airstrikes from Iraq to Syria in The Guardian.

They are: clarity about how any UK intervention would hasten IS's demise; a plan to bring about a political solution to the Syrian conflict; a strategy to disrupts IS's finances; assurances over post-conflict reconstruction; and proposals for strengthening cohesion and fighting radicalisation at home.

Sky News' Political Editor Faisal Islam says Mr Jarvis' comments will give Number 10 confidence.

"Senior Labour MPs who back the idea of extending military action against IS in Syria have started to go public," he said.

"Dan Jarvis' five tests are rather achievable. It's sounding very positive for the Prime Minister.

"It isn't just Mr Jarvis - other Labour MPs have come out on the back of this.

"Number 10 is looking for certainty - and this starts to give them the idea that there are quite a few Labour MPs who could back the Prime Minister's strategy.

"If that is the case, and Labour MPs get a free vote, then we could have a vote on Wednesday or Thursday next week."

Mr Cameron earlier insisted he would not rush MPs into any vote.

"I don't want to bounce the house into this," he said.

"Members of Parliament will be able to take it away, consider it over the weekend, and then we go to having a full day's debate and proper consideration, and a vote.

"We shouldn't take too long over it. Every day that we spend is a day that we're not getting to grips with the Isil menace."

The last Commons vote on the UK striking in Syria, in August 2013, saw the Government defeated 285 to 272.

A potential second vote comes after a UN resolution calling on the world to take action against IS following the Paris attacks .