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By Ned Simons - 18th March 2011
MPs will be given a chance to approve military action against Gaddafi on Monday, as French jets have taken to the skies above Libya.
Sir George Young, the leader of the House of Commons, said there will be a vote on a "substantive motion" approving Britain's involvement in military action against Colonel Gaddafi.
Speaking in the Commons this morning David Cameron told MPs that the urgency of the situation on the ground in Libya meant the decision to deploy the RAF could not wait until after the weekend.
Shadow foreign minister Chris Bryant said the contributions from all sides of the Commons during the prime minister's showed MPs appeared to agree with taking military action.
"Taking the temperature of the House today the government has the assent it would broadly need," he suggested.
Some backbenchers wanted MPs to be given the chance to debate the decision sooner.
Labour MP John McDonnell said that the country was entering "serious and dangerous waters" and that the Commons should be recalled over the weekend.
MPs are expected to overwhelmingly support Britain's involvement in enforcing UN resolution 1973.
But there will be some dissenting voices. Labour's Barry Gardiner said that while he welcomed the decision of the Security Council he did not think Britain should commit forces.
He said policing the no-fly zone should be left to regional Arab and African powers.
But David Cameron said it would be strange for Britain to have pushed so heavily for the resolution only to then not participate in its enforcement.
"If you will the end you should will the means to that end," he said.
"We should never we overestimate Britain's size or capabilities but neither should we underestimate it."
Monday's debate will begin at 3.30pm, following questions to education secretary Michael Gove.
In a slightly awkward piece of parliamentary timetabling the debate will finish at 10pm and be immediately followed by a debate on MPs pay.
The coalition wants MPs to vote to turn down a pay rise recommended by the independent body that sets their salary.
Tory backbencher Peter Bone called for the "completely irrelevant" debate on MPs' pay to be ditched so that more time could be devoted to discussing the military action.
And fellow Conservative Therese Coffey said the debate should not end at 10pm, but rather continue into the night to permit as many MPs to speak as wanted to.
Sir George said a "full day's debate" as currently planned would be the "appropriate decision for the time being" but indicated the Commons would be given further opportunities to talk about the UN resolution.
"It may be the case Monday is not the last time we debate these matters," he said.
Shadow leader Hilary Benn backed the changes to business and cited similar debates on the Gulf War in 1991 and the Iraq War.
The report stage and third reading of the Budget Responsibility and National Audit Bill will now take place on Tuesday.
The remaining stages of the Scotland Bill meant to be taken on Tuesday will be rescheduled.
The Budget will go ahead as planned on Wednesday, with debate on the Budget debate continuing on Thursday 24, Monday 28 and Tuesday 29 March.
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