The events in Paris were a horrific reminder of how vulnerable we are today to terrorist attacks.

There is no doubt that keeping our country safe is becoming more challenging in the face of fundamentalists who care nothing for humanity.

The more notorious, the more shocking, the more they glorify in their exploits.  One need only recall the perpetrators of the evil attack on Lee Rigby. It is of real regret to me that two years ago the House of Commons failed to endorse military action in Syria.

The fact that the West failed to intervene then provided the conditions for ISIL to grow and prosper, aided and abetted by people leaving this country to join them.  

Thankfully, the Prime Minister took the decision to deal with so-called “Jihadi John” by drone attack.   We have to do the right thing.

Taking military action is something we should consider very carefully, but we must take decisive action, if it means keeping our country safe. Those who think we can ignore what is happening in Syria and that there will be no impact on the UK are dangerously misguided.  

With millions of people displaced due to this conflict, we are doing our bit for the refugees, but we won’t bring an end to this crisis while ISIL perpetuate their reign of terror across Syria and Iraq. That is why we spend money on international aid.  We have supported the refugees in camps. And we support initiatives in other countries so that anti-West fundamentalism is challenged.

Make no mistake, international aid is a key part of maintaining Britain’s role in the world. I will be voting again for air strikes against ISIL. For our own security and for the good of humanity, this enemy must be defeated.