Jeremy Corbyn to make ruling on Labour stance over Syria air strikes

Thousands of people demonstrated in London and Madrid against the potential participation of their countries in air strikes in Syria, as political momentum grows to broaden the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

Corbyn seeks grassroots support in an effort to convince Labour MPs to oppose Cameron’s rage for war and overcome opposition within his own shadow cabinet, most supporting military action in Syria.

He again refused to bow to demands for a free vote on Sunday, instead merely delivering an impassioned critique of David Cameron’s case for attacking IS in its heartlands.

The Labour leader revealed over 70,000 members have responded to an unprecedented snap consultation over air strikes since Friday. One frontbencher told me that the party could be whipped against but that “collective responsibility could be suspended”.

Parliament is expected to vote next week.

He said: “My view about the membership of the Labour Party – they must have a voice”.

“The Iraq factor is massive – it’s front and centre” for Labour MPs deciding whether to support action in Syria, according to Victoria Honeyman, an expert on British foreign policy at Leeds University.

Mr Corbyn used an appearance on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show to insist the decision on how to approach a vote would rest with him.

Len McCluskey, the general secretary of the Unite trade union has fired a warning shot at any MPs who may see this as an opportunity to dislodge Mr Corbyn. They should back him in the lobbies – and leave rebellion, division and chaos to Jeremy Corbyn and his disintegrating Party.

The government has insisted it will hold a vote on air strikes only if it is certain it has the clear support of the Commons, which means winning the backing of many Labour MPs.

But, breaking with a British political tradition of using a “party whip” to keep party discipline, his finance spokesman said Labor was considering allowing its lawmakers to vote as they wish, which may increase support for Cameron.

In his interview, Mr Corbyn dismissed intelligence advice that IS was using its territory in Syria to prepare terror atrocities against Britain, arguing that “those attacks could be planned anywhere”.

“We have to think about the danger of being counter-productive and I think there is good evidence from history that the presence of Western ground troops could itself (lead to radicalization)”, the prime minister said.

Finance Minister George Osborne, a frontrunner to succeed Cameron, said he understood people’s concerns that further involvement in the Middle East could make Britain a target.

Labour MPs and shadow cabinet ministers said the email exposed Mr Corbyn’s “ideological opposition” to intervention and proved it was not based on any real concerns about the Prime Minister’s strategy to defeat Isis.

“It’s the leader who decides”, he said.

“At this point, I do not believe that bombing Syria will make it safe, any more than bombing Iraq made Iraq safe, bombing Afghanistan made Afghanistan safe and bombing Libya made Libya safe”.

Veteran Sheffield MP Clive Betts is one of a number of Labour MPs, including shadow chancellor John McDonnell, calling for a free vote on the issue.

The report comes as Labour’s shadow cabinet meets early this afternoon to finalise the party’s approach on Syria bombing after a very public internal debate on the issue.