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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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Benn 'backs airstrikes but will not resign from shadow cabinet'

Shadow foreign minister Hilary Benn has said he will not resign from Labour's front bench - despite backing airstrikes in Syria, opposing the position taken by leader Jeremy Corbyn.

Hilary Benn will not resign, despite backing airstrikes, he said Credit: PA

It comes after Mr Corbyn provoked a backlash from Labour MPs by saying he could not support the military action, despite the shadow cabinet not reaching an agreed position.

Benn spoke to BBC R4's Today programme this morning, after admitting yesterday there was a "compelling" case for joining coalition airstrikes against the so-called Islamic State militant group in Syria.

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