Cardinal Vincent Nichols backs military action in Syria ahead of House of Commons vote

The most senior Roman Catholic in the UK has backed calls for military intervention in Syria and Iraq to stop Isis and "groups who perpetrate indiscriminate violence" ahead of a vote in the House of Commons.

MPs are currently in a 10-hour debate at the end of which they will vote on whether Britain should join NATO allies in bombing Isis targets in Syria.

“Effective action is necessary to stop the grave harm being inflicted by ISIS on civilians," Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster, said in a statement.

"While indiscriminate violence is never justifiable, specific use of force to protect the vulnerable is defensible, if it is combined with sustained diplomatic and humanitarian efforts. As Pope Francis has said: 'where there is unjust aggression, it is licit to stop the aggressor'.

Prime Minister, David Cameron (pictured above), is believed to have enough votes in the House to pass the motion as up to 90 Labour MPs are expected to vote in favour with the large majority of Tory MPs. The Democratic Unionist Party and the Liberal Democrats have also expressed support for Mr Cameron.

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Cardinal Nichols added: “Earlier this year in April during a visit to Iraq, I met with a number of Iraqi refugees and those who are generously sheltering them, led by the local Church.

"In conversation, I came to the conclusion that there are four necessary steps that are required to be taken in Iraq and Syria for refugees and displaced people to return home.

"The first is to stop Isis along with those groups who perpetrate indiscriminate violence and that will require a proportionate military intervention; the second will be to make villages and towns habitable through clearing land mines and other IEDs along with the necessary reconstruction of houses and infrastructure; the third will be to re-establish the rule of law and finally to re-establish trust between the different peoples and faiths.

"This will take time and requires a long-term commitment to all whose home is in the region and seek to live in peace.”