In the debate on whether the UK should assist in the bombing of so-called Islamic State targets in Syria, Jeremy Corbyn has probably rightly pointed out that one of the consequences will be that terrorist attacks will also focus on the UK. If such an attack occurs, he will be the first to shout “I told you so!” or words to that effect. At that moment his proclaimed pacifist stance will be overshadowed by events.

However he is wrong when he uses the argument of reprisals to advocate no military action. I can forgive younger people only recalling terrorism instigated by al-Qaida, but some of us remember vividly the terrorism of the IRA campaign.

I worked in London in the mid seventies and commuted in from the south coast. The IRA used bombs placed in litter bins on central London station platforms at that time. Did I stay at home and not go to work because of that risk? No! Did I think that Westminster should have given way to the Republicans in order to remove the threat of bombs? No.

As a nation, Britain was dominated by ‘the troubles’ forty years ago. Most of the horror took place in (Northern) Ireland, but the extension of terrorist activities onto the ‘mainland’ of Britain was a fact for a while.

Should we give way to terrorists? No! Should we seek them out and neutralise them? Yes, if possible.

I cannot help mentioning another sorry parallel between now and then: the rest of the world saw ‘the troubles’ as Roman Catholics against Protestants, just as now a lot of people are quick to condemn Muslims for so-called IS terrorism. The Bible no more defended the IRA’s tactics of killing and maiming than the Koran does for the supporters of IS. Both religions have waged wars in the past, and both are also grounded in non(-essential) violence.

We need to choose our motives wisely – the memory of ‘WMD’ is still fresh in our minds. That led us into a chain of military action which, according to many observers, has left the Middle East as unstable as it was when we started.

France’s declaration of war on the so-called Islamic State caliphate may have been premature – we have no recent precedent in dealing with a caliphate –  but we do need to stand shoulder to shoulder with our NATO allies here. Hiding behind Jeremy Corbyn’s skirt’s will not do.

My father was a pacifist. A conscientious objector in the second world war, on religious grounds. But I will never forget when I was being bullied on my way to junior school, it was my father that told me to stand up to them and fight back! I never did quite reconcile that attitude.