Jeremy Corbyn holds crunch Labour talks over vote on Syria airstrikes

Jeremy Corbyn faces the biggest test of his leadership so far as the shadow cabinet prepares to meet to hear whether he will demand they vote against military action against Islamic State in Syria.

The Labour leader, who is opposed to extending airstrikes on Isis from Iraq, is considering whether his MPs should be whipped to oppose military action. A three-line Labour whip against the airstrikes would increase the chance of David Cameron calling off his plans for a vote in the House of Commons, as he wants a clear majority in favour.

However, this approach could lead to the resignation of many of Corbyn’s senior colleagues, who are in favour of the government’s proposals for bombing Isis. Those minded to back military action include the shadow foreign secretary, Hilary Benn, the deputy leader, Tom Watson, the shadow lord chancellor, Charles Falconer, and the shadow education secretary, Lucy Powell.

Ahead of the crucial meeting of the shadow cabinet at Monday lunchtime, Diane Abbott, the shadow international development secretary, said party members would be disappointed if discipline was not enforced.

“What I’m saying is that party members and increasingly the country want to see us oppose these airstrikes, which are not the solution, with every sinew of our being. And that would mean a three-line whip,” she told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

“It’s not whether I would be disappointed. It’s what the party and the country would think. I think this is about the country, this is more than about individuals, this is more than about matters of party management. The country and certainlyLabour party supporters are looking to the party to oppose these airstrikes because they don’t think it’s the answer.”

Corbyn has already canvassed more than 70,000 party members for their views on the airstrikes in the hope of persuading MPs in favour of action that they are out of step with the grassroots. It is understood sampling of the returns shows about 70% are against airstrikes.

Momentum, the grassroots group of Corbyn supporters, has separately been urging people to lobby their MPs against supporting airstrikes, and about 40,000 people have contacted their MP through Stop the War, the campaign group formerly chaired by the Labour leader.