David Cameron is facing a furious backlash for "refusing" to return from his holiday and recall Parliament - despite Britain deploying warplanes to Iraq.
But is the case for recalling parliament a strong one? For MPs to be called back to Parliament the government has to pass a request on to Commons Speaker John Bercow, who then has the final say. It's a rare occurrence that only happens because of "events of major national importance."
Looking back, the death of Margaret Thatcher was judged sufficiently important to summon MPs back to Westminster, as was the hacking scandal and the London riots in the summer of 2011.
But right now, as the world watches in horror as thousands of Yazidis are trapped in extreme conditions after fleeing advancing Islamic State (IS) forces, the Prime Minister is in the Algarve, Portugal, where officials say he is in close touch with ministers and officials and still running the country.
Deputy PM Nick Clegg is in Spain, Home Secretary Theresa May is on an Alpine break, and First Secretary of State William Hague is also holidaying.
Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond is currently the most senior minister in the capital, even though he has only been in his job for a month.
But a recall "is not on the cards," the prime minister's spokesperson said yesterday, dismissing concerns from MPs who have said the UK currently has "no policy" on the issue.
As the sense of disarray at the heart of government intensifies, the question remains open as to whether or not the Prime Minister will bow to pressure and if the Government will be recalled over the escalating disaster.
Government Recalled
August 2014, Iraq Crisis(01 of08)
Open Image ModalCameron is under pressure to recall parliament amid growing unrest at the humanitarian crisis engulfing Iraq. With more reports of minority Christians and Yazidis being slaughtered by Islamic State extremists in the north of the country, Tory and Labour figures have insisted the Commons needs to debate possible military action. But a No 10 source has indicated there were no plans for the prime minister to cut short his family break in Portugal, from which he is due back later this week.
August 2013, Syria (02 of08)
Open Image ModalMPs were recalled from their summer break in 2013 to vote on whether Britain should take part in military action in response to the alleged use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime in Syria. The prime minister returned to Downing Street early from his summer holiday in Cornwall to allow him to chair a meeting of the national security council. Cameron said the world could "not stand idly by" in the face of the "massive use" of banned weapons.
November 2012, Austerity Hits David Cameron (Sort Of)(03 of08)
Open Image ModalJuly 2011, Phone Hacking Scandal(04 of08)
Open Image ModalDavid Cameron called for MPs to delay their summer break in 2011 to allow Parliament to debate the phone hacking scandal. MPs due to leave for their annual summer recess were told to hold off on their trips abroad - whilst the PM was on a trip to Africa. There was a statement on public confidence in the media and police followed by a debate on the same subject. Osborne also returned from his holiday in the States to discuss the escalating stock market crisis at the time.
August 2011, London Riots(05 of08)
Open Image ModalParliament was recalled in 2011 so MPs could debate the riots that had engulfed London and spread across Britain. The decision came just hours after Cameron faced mounting criticism after three days of violence raged in London, which blossomed into a full-blown political crisis as authorities struggled to contain the country's worst unrest since race riots set the capital ablaze in the 1980s . As a result, the PM nearly tripled the number of police on the streets. The crisis was a major test for Cameron's Conservative-led coalition government, with the Liberal Democrats having long suspected its program of harsh budget restraints could provoke popular dissent.
May 2009, Expenses Scandal(06 of08)
Open Image ModalIn 2009, Nick Clegg demanded MPs be blocked from taking their summer holidays until they agreed sweeping changes at Westminster in the wake of the expenses scandal. Clegg called for radical reform of members' expenses, party funding and the electoral system within 100 days and said politicians should "bar the gates" at Westminster "until the crisis has been sorted out". Everyone went off on their holidays as normal.
August 2007, Foot And Mouth Outbreak(07 of08)
Open Image ModalPM at the time Gordon Brown abandoned his Dorset family holiday in 2007 to deal with the foot and mouth outbreak rampaging across the UK. The Prime Minister decided not to return to the cottage where he was due to stay, instead setting off for Chequers with his fellow politicians.
September 2002, Iraq Crisis (08 of08)
Open Image ModalParliament was recalled in 2002 so MPs could debate the Iraq crisis. The PM at the time, Tony Blair, faced mounting calls from opposition Conservatives and his own ruling Labour Party to give parliament an opportunity to discuss the crisis. Acknowledging that some politicians had called for an earlier recall, Blair said at the time that the government needed time to ensure its dossier was as detailed as possible, without compromising sensitive intelligence material.