Where Shadow Cabinet Stands On Syria Airstrikes

But a spokesman for Corbyn told IBTimes UK on the morning of 30 November, just hours ahead of the scheduled shadow cabinet meeting, that he had not decided on whether to let his parliamentary party vote with their conscience or not.

“My argument is, yes, there is military action that is being taken over the skies of Syria”, the Prime Minister said Saturday.

The text will also underline the importance of a political settlement for the civil war in Syria, and note that United Kingdom military capabilities, such as the high-precision Brimstone missile, will help minimise civilian casualties.

Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn has bowed to pressure from Shadow Cabinet colleagues and given Labour MPs a free vote on whether to extend airstrikes against Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) from Iraq into Syria when Prime Minister David Cameron calls a vote.

“Obviously there are strong views on both directions”. We have had long discussions about this at the weekend.

Cameron plans to make a statement Monday evening, with a vote expected in Parliament as early as Wednesday. That gives him unique clout in the shadow cabinet, the NEC and on the Commons benches. “Labour MPs need to listen to that voice and try to understand where they are coming from”, he said.

We contacted the Labour Party to clarify the methodology of the poll, but they had not replied at the time of publication. “The result was a very, very clear mandate for me to be leader of the party”.

Others are said to want Corbyn himself to quit over the issue.

But Corbyn dismissed this idea, saying he is “not going anywhere and… enjoying every minute” of his leadership.

Jeremy Corbyn is set to reveal later whether he will order his party to oppose airstrikes against Islamic State targets in Syria.

It will also explicitly rule out the use of British troops in Syria.

Mr Murray acknowledged reports of women and children being raped and the persecution of homosexuals, but said the people living in IS’s Syrian heartland of Raqqa do not want air strikes and the free Syrian army does not have the capacity to support them.

The defiant appearance on the BBC’s Andrew Marr show will have done nothing to ease tensions with his shadow cabinet amid warnings of resignations if the leader refuses to compromise.

“I hope that when the choice comes people will indicate that this is the right thing for Britain to do”. I talk to people who do not agree with me, I talk to people who agree with me.

But a senior source confirmed that a free vote would be offered, as the shadow cabinet gathered in Westminster to discuss an issue which has exposed deep rifts at the heart of the party. “We are still in the process of getting more clarity on where MPs stand on the issue”.

The rebellious MPs persuaded Corbyn that MPs were to have a free vote, which means party whips will not be able to influence their decision.

The shadow worldwide development secretary told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “It’s a matter for the leader what the whipping will be, but we are a party of government and a party of government has to have a position on matters of peace and war”.

“I think it’s been handled appallingly”.