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Syria: 75% Of Labour Members Against Airstrikes

Mr Murray, who is among those attending the shadow cabinet meeting with Mr Corbyn, told BBC Radio Scotland on Monday morning that he would vote against air strikes as he did not think they would improve the situation in Syria.

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

Ahead of a potentially explosive meeting of the shadow cabinet, Diane Abbott said “the party as a whole” is opposed to the bombing and “looking to Jeremy to show leadership”.

Asked whether Labour MPs – dozens of whom are thought to be considering supporting action – would be given a free vote, Mr Corbyn said: “No decision has been made on that yet, I am going to find out what MPs think”.

Mr Corbyn said he had received 70,000 responses to a survey sent out to Labour supporters on Friday canvassing their opinions, and a decision would be taken “as a party”.

He also said a unanimously passed UN Security Council resolution calling for “all necessary measures” against the terrorist group did not provide justification for military action. “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. “Whatever party it is, look at the arguments, listen to the arguments that have been put forward before thinking about voting on this issue because there is a compelling case that taking military action alongside our allies can help to address the threat”.

“However, I think the party and increasingly the public would be disappointed if we didn’t oppose these air strikes to the limits of our ability”.

“I make the point that it’s a matter for the leader”.

Speaking at a Commonwealth conference in Malta, the Prime Minister said MPs would make their views known “when the choice comes”, adding to speculation that there will be a Commons vote on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Corbyn has since hinted he would not give his MPs a free vote on the issue and instead whip the parliamentarians against bombing Syria.

“You can’t just write these people off as psychopaths and sociopaths”, the Bridge Of Spies star said.

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.

Downing Street confirmed that MPs from all sides of the House were being offered briefings on the Government’s case for United Kingdom involvement in air strikes against IS in Syria, at which they were able to ask questions about the strategy.

Rylance said bombing IS could ultimately strengthen the group: “I fear we may be playing right into what they want – bombing more civilians and therefore helping them recruit more desperate young men with no other way in responding in their grief than by fighting back”.

The first planned air strikes are expected to follow within 36 hours of a “yes” vote, but defence sources say a “dynamic targeting attack” against a target of opportunity, such as an IS leader, could take place within a few hours.

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The Times newspaper said senior Labour officials and lawmakers had sought legal advice on how to unseat Corbyn in the hope of building support for a plot against him.

Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn