Jeremy Corbyn is expected to seek the direct backing of grassroots Labour members and the party’s ruling body as he tries to persuade his MPs not to support David Cameron’s case for bombing Islamic State in Syria.
The Labour leader is facing a revolt from within his shadow cabinet over whether to back the government in a Commons vote next week, with most leaning in favour of military action, including Hilary Benn, the shadow foreign secretary, and Tom Watson, the deputy party leader.
However, Corbyn is prepared for a fight with the MPs who are in favour of the current proposals for military action by attempting to show they are out of step with wider opinion in the party, especially at grassroots level.
He has already written directly to MPs, saying: “I do not believe the prime minister’s current proposal for airstrikes in Syria will protect our security and therefore cannot support it.” The Labour whips were ringing round MPs for their opinions on Friday night about this statement.
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