Prime Minister David Cameron wants to convince lawmakers to back British air strikes against Islamic State in Syria as well as in Iraq where it already supports US-led attacks.
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A two-hour meeting of the shadow cabinet heard that as many as 43% of Labour MPs – nearly 100 of the 231-strong parliamentary party – back airstrikes, against 57% – around 132 – who would follow Mr Corbyn into the No lobby.
The parliament’s foreign affairs committee criticized extending air strikes into Syria earlier this month, saying that without a clear strategy to defeat the militants and end the civil war such action was “incoherent”.
Jeremy Corbyn has been given a substantial boost ahead of his crunch meeting with Labour’s shadow cabinet over United Kingdom air strikes on Syria.
Deputy Labour leader Tom Watson said:”After the week that we’ve had, the best way of holding the party together, but allowing MPs to solemnly express what they feel, is for us to have a free vote”.
Mr Murray said Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale was also opposed to air strikes, but added: “There are wide views on this particular issue – it is an incredibly emotive issue”.
“Frankly, I think the threat of mass resignations has been exaggerated but we will have to see”.
He wrote: “The thought that some Labour MPs might be prepared to play intra-party politics over an issue such as this will sicken all decent people”.
He argued precision strikes by the RAF had not claimed a single civilian life during action taken against IS in Iraq. 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 Labour Party leader remained defiant throughout the interview.
But Mr Corbyn’s decision to release a letter outlining his opposition to airstrikes against Islamic State in Syria has raised the prospect of a revolt over the issue when it comes to be voted on in the Commons.
When asked whether MPs 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”.
The second is whether MPs, who are elected by the general public, should pay greater regard to their members, or to their voters, or to their own presumably sound judgement that voters have elected and pay them to exercise on their behalf.
Most Labour lawmakers did not support Corbyn’s bid for the leadership but he was backed by an overwhelming majority of grassroots party members. As more innocent people die from the air strikes, the appeal of Daesh will strengthen. Hove MP Peter Kyle yesterday told the Westminster Hour programme that he had made up his mind and that “the whip is irrelevant to me now”.
He said any motion put to a vote would be based around four key areas: counter-terrorism, the diplomatic and political process, military action against IS and ongoing humanitarian support.
“And the problem about a free vote is that it hands victory to Cameron over these airstrikes, it hands victory to him on a plate”.
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Speaking at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Conference in Malta, he said: ‘I’m not responsible for what is happening in the Labour Party.
