Campaigners urge MPs: 'Don't Bomb Syria'

Statue of Winston Churchill looks on

Thousands of peace campaigners, including members of Pax Christi and J&P groups gathered opposite the Houses of Parliament in Parliament Square on Tuesday evening, to call on MPs to vote against bombing Syria.

Holding placards with the message 'Don't Bomb Syria' , they chanted slogans such as: "When they say 'Warfare!' we say 'Welfare!" and: " No to killing. No to war!"

A number of speakers addressed the crowd.

Scottish National Party MP Philip Boswell said: "If we drop more bombs we create more refugees."

Green MP Caroline Lucas said: "the Prime Minister has failed to make a compelling case for bombing" .." a huge number of civilians will be caught up. ISIL is already embedded in the civilian population. The bombing so far has acted as the biggest recruiting campaign for ISIL. A year ago they had 15, 000. Now there are 30,000... We must end the arms sales to the Middle East, stop supporting Saudi Arabia; stop Turkey buying oil from ISIL and care for refugees."

Labour MP Richard Burgon said: "Our Parliament got it so disastrously wrong on Iraq, our Parliament got it so disastrously wrong on Libya and, in my view, is about to get it disastrously wrong on Syria". But he added: "It's not too late for MPs to think again.

Kate Hudson General Secretary of CND said: "MPs being asked to cross the line between humanity and barbarity.. We're saying to people don't run away . Stay and be bombed.... Why is there no money for the NHS and welfare but money for war?"

London mayoral candidate, George Galloway said the plan was "Ill conceived and ill thought out" As Big Ben tolled for 7 o'clock, Galloway made a grim prediction saying the bell would be tolling for those who voted for the war once the first pictures of Syrian children came in - then images of the first British pilot shot down - then the first atrocity carried out on a British street somewhere.

After the speeches, the crowd moved out of the square and walked to the Conservative Party and Labour Party headquarters nearby, to deliver letters appealing for MPs not to vote for war.

Linda and Adam Kovac, from Enfield, took part in the march with their two children. Linda said: "Every time Britain gets involved in another war things seem to get worse. Millions of people have lost their homes and way of life. I can't see how bombing is going to help. Thats why we came."

Teacher Dave Bradbury from Fulham said: "Two years ago Cameron wanted to bomb Assad. Now he wants to bomb IS. The whole project doesn't make sense to me. I saw the refugees in Greece this summer and I don't think most people really understand what they are going through and what the impact of more bombing will mean."

MPs will vote on the decision to begin a bombing campaign on Syria tonight.

The Stop the War campaign will be organising a 'Die-In' in Parliament Square from 6pm.