A CALL for air strikes on Syria to help smash the so-called 'Islamic State' (IS) was tonight backed by Oxfordshire Conservative MPs as they rallied behind Prime Minister David Cameron.

The Witney MP yesterday said it was in Britain's national interest to join its American and French allies as they intensify bombing of the terrorist group in Iraq and Syria and he called on the House of Commons to support him.

IS controls large swathes of territory across both states, but the Royal Air Force is only authorised to operate in Iraq – something military chiefs argue makes little sense as the terrorist group does not recognise the borders.

In his speech to MPs, Mr Cameron said security services had foiled seven terror plots linked to Islamic State in the past 12 months alone, adding: "Every day we fail to act is a day when [IS] can grow stronger and more plots can be undertaken.

"I am in no doubt that it is in our national interest for action to be taken to stop them.

"We must not shirk our responsibility for security – or hand it to others."

But the Prime Minister vowed not to bring forward a vote on the air strikes until he could be sure of a clear Commons majority.

Today he was backed by his Conservative colleagues in Oxfordshire, Wantage MP Ed Vaizey, Banbury MP Victoria Prentis and Henley MP John Howell.

Mr Vaizey said: “I will be supporting the government. It is important for Britain to support her allies and to do all we can to degrade [IS]’s ability to strike in both Syria and in Europe.”

Conservative Oxford West MP Nicola Blackwood said she was still "carefully considering" her decision, but Labour's Andrew Smith, MP for Oxford East, said the situation was "complex and dangerous" and that he was currently opposed. 

He added: "I have received a large number of representations from constituents opposed to Britain joining bombing raids [in Syria] at the present time. 

"I agree, and like them I believe we need to be sure that anything we do makes matters better and not worse."

It came as one of the most senior church figures in Oxfordshire today warned the city's MPs that air strikes in Syria "will solve nothing".

In a letter to Mr Smith and Miss Blackwood, seen by the Oxford Mail, Archdeacon of Oxford Martin Gorick wrote: "Talking is always preferable to fighting. 

"Adding British bombs to the myriad of weapons falling on that country from the skies will solve nothing. 

"Using our diplomatic strength and expertise just might."

Meanwhile, it was also not clear this evening whether military personnel from RAF Brize Norton, in West Oxfordshire, would be involved in any future strikes in Syria.

At present a Voyager KC2 aircraft operated by 10 and 101 Squadrons has been deployed to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus and from there it is carrying out missions to refuel British and Western coalition jets conducting strikes against IS in the skies above Iraq.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said further deployments would be decided after a vote in the House of Commons and that this could not be "pre-empted".