UK Iraq Strategy Criticised

The former head of the British Army has said "the nation would expect" Parliament to be recalled to debate British involvement in Iraq, as the Prime Minister started his second holiday of the summer.

General Sir Richard Dannatt, who was a defence adviser to David Cameron after he retired as chief of the general staff in 2009, warned that MPs and Lords would get "very frustrated" if they did not get to address the situation before Parliament is due to sit again in October.

Britain is poised to provide weapons to Kurdish troops fighting the "murderous extremists" of Islamic State (IS) in northern Iraq as well as continued humanitarian aid.

The Prime Minister has insisted he remains in control and will be able to manage the Government's response from Cornwall, where he has headed for a break with his family.