Corbyn’s response to the proposed air strikes is not a surprise as he is only acting in accordance with his long held principles which were the reason he was voted leader in the first place. The British government are hoping to vote in the near future to allow The British Air Force to attack Islamic State targets inside Syria, but the outcome of the vote is not yet assured, with both sides trying to garner support and prompting public demonstrations.
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Mr Cameron said: “Obviously when you contemplate any military action – and remember our pilots are flying over Iraq attacking Isil at the moment, day after day – there is a risk to our courageous armed forces when we put them in harm’s way”.
Perhaps Cameron’s most bitter parliamentary defeat as prime minister came in 2013, when he sought the House’s approval for military action in Syria.
Meanwhile, the leader of the Labour party Jeremy Corbyn only just confirmed that he will give his party’s politicians a free vote over whether they are for or against the bombing.
Many Britons are wary of entering into more military action in the Middle East after Western intervention in Iraq, Libya and Afghanistan failed to bring stability and, some believe, led to the rise of militant groups such as Islamic State.
That is the division between the dissenting MPs and the vast majority of Labour party members who back Corbyn’s stance.
He has criticised the decision not to hold a two-day debate, saying Cameron should “stop the rush to war”.
“Do I want all Labour MPs to vote against the war?”
After a gruelling two hour showdown with his divided shadow cabinet, Corbyn conceded a free vote on Syria to Labour parliamentarians yesterday (30 November).
“We all need to destroy an enemy willing to use medieval barbarity against Muslims, Christians, aid workers and other innocent people in Syria and of course in Europe too”.
He elaborated that strikes are part of “a broader strategy” to implement political and democratic change, and support humanitarian efforts. The PLP meeting, where Mr Benn was loudly cheered by MPs, ended a disastrous day for Mr Corbyn in which he lost a battle with the shadow cabinet, conceding the free vote.
But it is thought that Corbyn may appeal for the prime minister to delay a vote while the concerns of Labour MPs are dealt with.
He said: “It is in the national interest, it is the right thing to do, we will be acting with our allies, we will be careful and responsible as we do so, but it’s the right thing to do this to keep our country safe”.
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Mr Corbyn is opposed to military intervention in Syria, but the government’s case is supported by some in the parliamentary Labour Party as well as his shadow cabinet.
