Jeremy Corbyn is heading for a showdown with his shadow cabinet over his opposition to military action in Syria, as the boss of Britain’s biggest union warned that MPs who continue to show him a lack of respect are writing their political obituaries.
The Labour leader is facing a rebellion among his senior colleagues, with the shadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn, the deputy leader Tom Watson, the shadow lord chancellorCharles Falconer and the shadow education secretary Lucy Powell minded to support extending airstrikes against Islamic State.
They will gather for a crucial shadow cabinet meeting on Monday, at which it will be settled whether Labour can collectively come to a decision on military action or whether they will have to hold a free vote allowing MPs to go with their conscience.
If Corbyn decides to whip his party against military action, it becomes more likely that Downing Street will not proceed with a vote as Cameron has said he wants a clear majority of the House of Commons in favour of airstrikes.
The Labour leader asserted his authority over the party on Sunday, reminding MPs of his large mandate and making clear that he alone would decide whether to whip them to vote against extending airstrikes on Isis.
Cameron is likely to hold a vote on extending the bombing of Isis to Syria on Wednesday. He has the vast majority of Tory MPs behind him, but foreign secretary Philip Hammond and defence secretary Michael Fallon have been phoning Labour MPs urging them to swing behind the government position.
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