Thousands of people were expected to protest in London Saturday against Britain potentially joining air strikes against the Islamic State (IS) group in Syria.
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If Jeremy Corbyn fails to allow his MPs a free vote and tries to impose a three-line whip, it will inevitably spark the resignations of half his front bench team, a major revolt on the back benches and a humiliating defeat which could destroy either the leader himself or the party’s credibility with the public.
But the wider battle for the future direction of Labour shifted in Mr Corbyn’s favour today as the leftwing Fire Brigades Union reaffiliated to the party and a key aide had his membership suspension lifted.
Labour insiders estimate that three-quarters of the shadow cabinet – and up to 115 MPs – support Mr Cameron’s plan for bombing Isil in the wake of the Paris terrorist attacks.
Mr Cameron said yesterday at the Commonwealth summit in Malta: “I would say to MPs of whatever party, look at the compelling case for military action”. Britain should not allow other nations to do its work for it, he said.
The meeting of leaders is to map strategy to beef up development project aid in Africa and set up mechanisms to repatriate migrants Europe says don’t deserve its protection.
Ex-minister John Spellar said Mr Corbyn’s behaviour over the Syria vote had been “unacceptable”.
Allies of the Labour leader had asked the office of the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) to ensure that only Mr Corbyn spoke for the leadership at the PLP meeting next Monday, a Labour MP told HuffPost UK. There are now voices across all wings of the party, from John McDonnell to Tristram Hunt, suggesting we should have a free vote, and I think they are right.
Actor Mark Rylance and musician Brian Eno handed a letter in to Downing Street urging Mr Cameron not to join the global air strikes.
“If anyone should resign after this incident, it should be Jeremy Corbyn”.
“In solidarity with France and in a communal spirit of fighting against terrorism, I can only approve what the British prime minister and the German chancellor have proposed”, Hollande said.
The Prime Minister has repeatedly said he will not seek the support of the House unless he is certain of winning as defeat would hand a propaganda victory to the extremists.
Corbyn, a veteran socialist who has long opposed British foreign intervention, including Britain’s involvement in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya, later issued a statement saying he was not convinced by Cameron’s arguments and would oppose air strikes if they’re put to a vote. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country was “saddened” over the incident, but has refused to apologise. Britain has already carried out air strikes targeting Islamic State in Iraq.
Appearing on BBC Radio 4’s Any Questions, Mr McDonnell made clear his own strong opposition to any Western military action in the Middle East. Refugees interviewed by the Observer said Isis is keeping civilians as “human shields” and warned about loss of innocent life if a bombing campaign goes wrong.
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The full answer to the threat from IS would not be delivered until there is a new Syrian government which is genuinely representative of all the country’s people, he said.
