Cameron sets out 'moral case' for airstrikes against Isis in Syria

David Cameron has begun the delicate process of persuading sceptical Labour MPs to back airstrikes in Syria, saying the UK was already facing the threat of mass casualties from Isis and arguing that Britain could not outsource its security to allies.

• Labour MPs have been lobbied to vote against UK airstrikes in Syria by members of staff in the party’s whips’ office before the shadow cabinet has decided whether to allow a free vote on the issue. As Patrick Wintour reports, MPs objected to receiving emails from the staff of an MP in the Labour whips office urging them to vote against bombing in Syria, sent shortly before David Cameron held a House of Commons debate on the proposals.The email, which was sent out by a member of staff working for Graeme Morris, the Labour MP and a whip, was allegedly drafted with the knowledge of the Labour leader’s office.

• George Osborne will be forced to raise taxes or announce more spending cuts if the brighter picture of the public finances presented at the autumn statement proves to be unfounded, the Institute for Fiscal Studies warned.

• David Cameron’s hopes of securing a new basis before Christmas for keeping Britain in the European Union are fading, according to his closest ally in the EU, amid strong signs that it will be next February before the prime minister is able to finalise new membership terms to be put to a referendum. “I am not sure we will get to a conclusion in December. That has to be seen,” said Mark Rutte, the prime minister of the Netherlands, Ian Traynor reports. “At least we should be able to make a very serious start.”

• Iain Duncan Smith, the work and pensions secretary, unlawfully discriminated against disabled people by failing to exempt their carers from the benefit cap, a High Court judge has ruled.

That’s all from me for today.
Thanks for the comments.