Jeremy Corbyn has made it clear he can not support RAF air strikes in Syria and is being pressured to offer his MPs a free vote after facing backlash from his shadow cabinet.
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But David Cameron’s conservative government is hoping for a green light from MPs as early as next week.
Former shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna told Sky News at the weekend he would defy Mr Corbyn if MPs are ordered to oppose military action.
The parliamentary party – a large proportion of which is believed to be considering supporting air strikes – will then hold what could be a highly fractious meeting on Monday evening.
Some members of parliament who were reluctant to launch further military action in the Middle East now feel it is needed to protect Britain from attacks like the ones staged in Paris.
The prime minister’s position is also under pressure with defence secretary Michael Fallon yesterday(SUN) acknowledging the Government does “not yet” have a guaranteed majority backing military action.
Divisions within the party on Syria have helped ferment discontent among some opposition MPs over Mr Corbyn’s leadership with a substantial number likely to rebel if he orders a whipped vote against airstrikes.
“Obviously there are strong views on both directions”.
“No decision has been made on that yet, I am going to find out what MPs think”, he told the programme.
Mr Corbyn faces the prospect of a rebellion by senior figures, including members of the shadow cabinet, if he attempts to impose a three-line whip to vote against bombing IS in Syria. And he believes opinion within the party, including the shadow cabinet, is moving against air strikes.
A political settlement was clearly needed in Syria, he said, but added that the United Kingdom should not wait for a settlement before acting.
“Labour MPs need to listen to that voice, need to try and understand where people are coming from on this”.
We contacted the Labour Party to clarify the methodology of the poll, but they had not replied at the time of publication.
He to a recent Foreign Affairs committee report on air strikes ahead of the speech, saying: “The threats to our interests and to our people are such that we can not afford to stand aside and not to act”.
Corbyn went into the shadow cabinet meeting armed with polling of a sample of members who responded to an email asking for their views, which showed 75% of 1,900 people were against Cameron’s proposals.
“I make the point that it’s a matter for the leader. I’m enjoying every moment of it”.
The shadow Scottish secretary has said he will oppose air strikes against the so-called Islamic State group in Syria if there is vote in the Commons.
Britain is already involved in airstrikes against the Islamic State in Iraq but has not so far taken part in bombings of the group’s positions in Syria.
Cameron lost a vote in parliament on air strikes against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s forces in 2013.
“I want on these sort of issues an unwhipped vote, because they are above party politics”, he said. “As a member of the Party’s governing body, it is also important to hear your views”.
“Unless the Prime Minister answers these questions satisfactorily, the Scottish National Party will not vote for air strikes in Syria”.
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He said the issue was being used as the “thin edge to stage a coup” – and insisted his union would fight “all the way” to prevent the tactic working.
