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Corbyn faces shadow cabinet revolt over Syria air strikes

Jeremy Corbyn has cancelled a visit to a by-election campaign in Oldham amid a shadow cabinet revolt over air strikes in Syria.

Mr Corbyn told Labour MPs that he cannot support the strikes, prompting a furious reaction and resignation threats from the shadow cabinet.

On Thursday, David Cameron urged the House of Commons to back military action against so-called Islamic State in Syria, saying the group posed a "serious and undeniable" threat to Britain.

But in a letter to his MPs, Mr Corbyn rejected Mr Cameron's claim that air strikes would make Britain safer.

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Shadow minister admits rebellion against Corbyn is likely

There will be a rebellion within Labour if party leaders try to whip a vote on the issue of Syria, a shadow minister has admitted.

Emily Thornberry said MPs could not 'stick to a whip' on Syria, if one was imposed Credit: PA

MP Emily Thornberry said there was "brutally honest" debate among MPs at the moment, as they ask their constituents what they believe should happen.

It comes after leader Jeremy Corbyn sparked a furious backlash after revealing he could not back RAF air strikes against so-called Islamic State in Syria, before the shadow cabinet had reached an agreed position on the issue.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Ms Thornberry said:

We have an open debate, and a brutally honest debate, going on within the Labour Party.

I think there will always be divisions within the political parties, the Conservatives will have their divisions too.

When it comes to an issue of war it is something that people think very profoundly about. We do usually act collectively, but I think on issues like this there are times when people cannot stick to a whip which is imposed.

– Emily Thornberry MP
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Corbyn faces shadow cabinet revolt over Syria air strikes

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