Syria vote: PM faces apology calls over 'terrorist sympathiser' comment

David Cameron has kicked off a debate on whether to authorise air strikes in Syria by insisting he "respects people who disagree" with his position.

He faced calls from Labour, Lib Dem and SNP MPs to apologise for reportedly telling a meeting that opponents of action were "terrorist sympathisers".


The PM told MPs there was "honour" in voting for or against air strikes.
A 10-hour Commons debate will end in a vote on whether the UK should join allies in bombing IS targets in Syria.
Mr Cameron says IS is a threat to Britain's security.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn opposes bombing but has given MPs a free vote amid divisions within his own ranks.
Mr Corbyn's aides say as many as 90 Labour MPs could back the government - and with both the Democratic Unionist Party and the Liberal Democrats backing action Mr Cameron is expected to win parliamentary approval for the UK to intervene militarily in the four-year conflict in Syria.
However, at least 110 MPs from six different parties - including the SNP, which opposes action - have already signed up to an amendment seeking to block air strikes.
Commons Speaker John Bercow said 157 MPs had applied to speak in the debate, but Labour and the SNP warned that not all would not get a chance and called on the government to clear two Commons days, something that was rejected by Commons leader Chris Grayling.
The government motion would authorise air strikes "exclusively" against Islamic State - also known as Isis, Isil or Daesh - in Syria.
A vote is expected at around 22:00 GMT.
The prime minister caused controversy on the eve of the vote by labelling Mr Corbyn and other opponents of action as "terrorist sympathisers".
The BBC's political editor Laura Kuenssberg said the comments were a departure from the "carefully crafted" language that Mr Cameron has used over the past week.
It comes amid reports that Downing Street - which has been trying to court Labour MPs - was now keen to carry the vote through with support of its own MPs and the party's "natural allies", such as the DUP.
A spokesman for Mr Corbyn said Mr Cameron's comments were a "contemptible slur" and showed he was losing the argument.

BBC