Protest against proposed air strikes in Syria

The protest is organised by the Stop The War Coalition protest movement, which is also holding a string of other demonstrations around Britain.

Mr Watson hinted a free vote – allowing the shadow cabinet and Labour MPs to vote as they please – might be the best way out of the situation.

“I hope that when the choice comes people will indicate that this is the right thing for Britain to do”.

The row was triggered by Mr Corbyn’s decision on Thursday to release a letter declaring he could not support RAF air strikes in Syria – seen by some MPs as an attempt to pre-empt Monday’s meeting.

“The only way to deal with that reality is to address the threat we face and to do so now”, he said. I think China would jump at the opportunity to be involved because it would bring them on to the global stage. “It depends whether something happens that could swing it – and that could be either way”.

A vote by MPs is expected within weeks.

The proposals will also include counter-extremism moves, a diplomatic and political process and immediate humanitarian support for Syria.

He went on: “On certain issues, the ones really above party politics, we have got to have mature politics in our democracy now”.

This would expose the full scale of opposition to Mr Corbyn among his senior colleagues and allow them to call for MPs to be whipped in favour of military action.

Mr Cameron confirmed Defence Secretary Michael Fallon and Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond were calling Labour MPs this weekend to try to win their backing.

“It’s absolutely right for him to put that view in the shadow cabinet”. The party opted for an early pre-Christmas poll, giving second-placed Ukip less time to gain momentum, and selected the respected Oldham council leader Jim McMahon as its candidate.

And he added: “The military advice and diplomatic advice and the security advice all says that the risks of inaction are greater”. “I think people will be saying, we will not be pushed around like this”. We have a Tory government that is trying to look serious on devolution and my concern is that the funding does not come with it. I don’t want under-funded services to be passed on to local authorities. “They have got millions of troops”.

Its chairman Andrew Murray urged demonstrators to “stand behind” Jeremy Corbyn, the leader of the main opposition Labour party and a former Stop the War Coalition chairman, in opposing air strikes. “It is no way to run a party”, he said.

No date has been set for a vote on bombing, Cameron’s spokeswoman Helen Bower told reporters in Malta. I know as prime minister their bravery, their courage, their professionalism.

“The person who frankly seems to be letting himself down is Ken Livingstone with the remarks that he makes”.

Asked if there could be co-operation on the wording of the motion, a spokesman said: “We are very happy to continue to have discussions and to talk to MPs from all sides of the House to discuss with them any issues they may have”.

However the Shadow Foreign Secretary Hilary Benn has said he supports extending the bombing campaign against the militant group from Iraq into Syria, although he will not resign over the issue if the party decides to oppose airstrikes.