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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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Cameron urges Labour MPs to 'do the right thing' on Syria

David Cameron has urged Labour MPs to back plans for the RAF to join airstrikes in Syria, saying they should "do the right thing" and "vote on the basis of the arguments".

David Cameron addressed Commons yesterday Credit: PA

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn sparked a furious backlash from MPs when he announced that he could not support military intervention, despite the shadow cabinet not having agreed a position on the issue.

Frontbenchers including shadow education secretary Emily Thornberry have warned that Corbyn faces a rebellion if he tries to whip MPs into voting with him.

Speaking in Malta ahead of a Commonwealth summit, the Prime Minister encouraged wavering MPs to support his motion, saying he believed there was a "compelling case" to take "effective action" in Syria.

I thought many Members of Parliament on all sides of the House of Commons yesterday agreed there was a compelling case, so I would urge all of them to vote on the basis of the arguments for effective action on a compelling case to keep our country safe.

Vote on those arguments and we can do the right thing.

– David Cameron

Read: David Cameron makes the case for bombing IS in Syria

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Corbyn faces shadow cabinet revolt over Syria air strikes

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