Parliament has backed British participation in air strikes against ISIS in Iraq.
After a seven-hour debate, MPs voted for military action by 524 votes to 43.
The Conservatives, Lib Dems and Labour leaderships all backed air strikes although some MPs expressed concerns about where it would lead and the prospect of future engagement in Syria.
RAF planes could be called into action as early as Sunday. Speaking after the vote, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said a long campaign lay ahead and there would not be a “series of immediate hits”.
He told the BBC the priority would be to stop the “slaughter of civilians” in Iraq and the UK and its allies would continue to be guided by Iraqi and Kurdish intelligence in identifying targets.
Some 23 Labour MPs voted against air strikes, as did six Conservatives, one Liberal Democrat, two Plaid Cymru MPs and five Scottish National Party MPs.
They were joined in the no lobby by Green MP Caroline Lucas, three Social Democratic and Labour Party MPs and Respect MP George Galloway. Two MPs acted as no tellers during the vote, Labour’s Jeremy Corbyn and the SNP’s Pete Wishart.
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Earlier, Prime Minister David Cameron told MPs that intervention at the request of the Iraqi government was “morally justified” to combat a “brutal terrorist organisation” and was clearly lawful.
He won support from Labour leader Ed Miliband who said inaction would lead to “more killing” in Iraq, large swathes of which are controlled by Islamic State.
But shadow education minister Rushanara Ali, MP for Bethnal Green and Bow, resigned from the party’s front bench in order to abstain in the vote.
Labour MP Iain McKenzie has been sacked as an aide to shadow defence secretary Vernon Coaker for failing to back air strikes.
The parliamentary motion read in full:
“That this House:
“Condemns the barbaric acts of Isil against the peoples of Iraq including the Sunni, Shia, Kurds, Christians and Yazidi and the humanitarian crisis this is causing;
“Recognizes the clear threat Isil pose to the territorial integrity of Iraq and the request from the Government of Iraq for military support from the international community and the specific request to the UK Government for such support;
“Further recognizes the threat Isil poses to wider international security and the UK directly through its sponsorship of terrorist attacks and its murder of a British hostage;
“Acknowledges the broad coalition contributing to military support of the Government of Iraq, including countries throughout the Middle East;
“Further acknowledges the request of the Government of Iraq for international support to defend itself against the threat Isil poses to Iraq and its citizens, and the clear legal basis that this provides for action in Iraq;
“Notes that this motion does not endorse UK air strikes in Syria as part of this campaign, and any proposal to do so would be subject to a separate vote in Parliament;
“Accordingly supports Her Majesty’s Government, working with allies, in supporting the Government of Iraq in protecting civilians and restoring its territorial integrity, including the use of UK air strikes to support Iraqi, including Kurdish, security forces’ efforts against Isil in Iraq;
“Notes that Her Majesty’s Government will not deploy UK troops in ground combat operations;
“Offers its wholehearted support to the men and women of Her Majesty’s armed forces.”
