Labour claims 75% of party members oppose air strikes in Syria

With a slender majority, Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron wants MPs outside his party to back extending air strikes to hit Islamic State in Syria.

As many as several thousand people protested in London on Saturday against the possibility of British airstrikes in Syria, as the country’s lawmakers remained divided over the possibility of expanding military intervention in the region.

Corbyn on Sunday highlighted the support he had from grassroot members, who helped propel him to a shock victory in September’s race for the party leadership, insisting that their “voice” must be heard.

Shadow chancellor John McDonnell, Mr Corbyn’s closest ally, and deputy leader Tom Watson are among those who have urged a free vote.

Protesters chanting “Don’t bomb Syria” gathered outside Prime Minister David Cameron’s 10 Downing St. office.

He has made no direct appeal to working people to oppose war, let alone to denounce his opponents as warmongers-relying instead on internal party manoeuvres. I don’t think that’s what party members want to see.

Setting out his rationale for action last week, Mr Cameron had made clear he would only bring the matter before the Commons if he was confident of securing a significant majority.

It is no coincidence that the row is about military action, the most sensitive issue for Labour since former leader Tony Blair led Britain into supporting the U.S. in Iraq on evidence that was later hotly disputed.

Responding, Mr Corbyn said: “What I’ve done is what I said I would always do – try to democratise the way the party does things”.

The Campaign for Socialism, a group of left wing Scottish Labour members and supporters, has called for a whipped vote to ensure Mr Cameron’s plans are defeated.

However, it is taking part in air strikes against IS in Iraq after MPs backed the move past year.

But Mr Corbyn’s decision to release a letter outlining his opposition to airstrikes against Islamic State in Syria has raised the prospect of a revolt over the issue when it comes to be voted on in the Commons.

However, in a statement the party said it received more than 100,000 responses.

Shadow Justice Secretary Lord Falconer confirmed there were “significant differences” within the shadow cabinet and said frontbenchers should not be “forced” to resign by the imposition of a whip. It is incumbent on us all to ensure the country feels there has been the fullest parliamentary discussion of what you have rightly described as a highly complex situation.

A Times/YouGov opinion poll last week found that 58 percent of people would approve of Britain joining air strikes in Syria, compared to 22 percent against.

Mr Flynn said he opposed any escalation of war in the Middle East.

He declined to say whether this would include further details of the composition of the 70,000 “moderate” Syrian fighters who the PM has suggested are available on the ground.

He rejected claims that bombing Raqqa and other IS-held cities could lead to a large number of civilian casualties as the terror group retreats into tunnels or uses the local population as “human shields”.

“I don’t think this is the way to support our friends in France”, Rylance, star of Wolf Hall and Bridge of Spies, told reporters.

He could issue a whip to his MPs to vote against Mr. Cameron’s proposal, or allow each to vote on his/her conscience.