IT is right that Parliament is being recalled because the gravity of the situation in the Middle East demands Britain’s full attention.

If this country is to be actively involved in military action against Islamic State (IS) in Iraq, with the inevitable risk to British lives, the matter must be debated in full by our MPs.

The Prime Minister has said “we should not turn away from what needs to be done”. The Liberal Democrats support air strikes in Iraq.

And Labour leader Ed Miliband says he is “open to the possibility” of UK involvement.

Saying yes to military action should never be an easy option. Indeed, it should be the last resort.

But we have already expressed our view that the world cannot stand by while the barbaric threat of IS grows, and it follows that Britain cannot be inactive while other countries take the responsibility.

Unlike the last time British forces went into Iraq, MPs have the comfort of knowing that the Iraqi Government has requested our intervention.

The removal of IS must be legally sound and it must be carried out by as wide a coalition of countries as possible. Britain will have to be part of that.

A sad sight

THE debate over Durham County Council’s decision to close Newtown House care home in Stanhope has been well publicised, and so have the arguments surrounding the plans to have an 84th birthday celebration for Don Robson.

The bottom line is that it is just incredibly sad that a frail old man should end up at the centre of such ugly scenes as unfolded yesterday, with security guards employed to control entry to his party.

We should all hope his 85th birthday can be celebrated in more peaceful, dignified circumstances.