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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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Corbyn cancels by-election trip amid Labour row over Syria

Jeremy Corbyn is at odds with his shadow cabinet over Syria airstrikes. Credit: PA

Jeremy Corbyn has cancelled a trip to Oldham to campaign in a by-election amid a shadow cabinet revolt over airstrikes on Syria.

The Labour leader was due to travel to the Oldham West constituency on Friday to support Jim McMahon ahead of next week's by-election.

As recently as early on Thursday evening, Mr Corbyn tweeted that he was looking forward to the visit.

However, a spokeswoman for the Labour leader has now said: "Regrettably Jeremy Corbyn is not now visiting Oldham because matters to do with Syria mean he must return to London."

Mr Corbyn is at odds with top team after coming out and saying 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.

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Corbyn faces shadow cabinet revolt over Syria air strikes

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