Jeremy Corbyn has written to his MPs to say that he cannot support air strikes in Syria. In a letter sent to the parliamentary party this evening, the Labour leader writes that ‘I do not believe the Prime Minister’s current proposal for air strikes in Syria will protect our security and therefore cannot support it’. But the Shadow Cabinet will meet again on Monday, when we will attempt to reach a common view’.
Now, there are a number of possibilities here. The first is that Corbyn will allow a fully free vote on the matter, having discussed this with the Shadow Cabinet. The second is that the Labour frontbench takes one view and Corbyn takes another, which is in keeping with the way the party has behaved over the past few weeks, but odd, and it’s still not clear where that would leave backbenchers. And the third is that Corbyn will say his party cannot support air strikes and whip all MPs accordingly.
But what is more interesting is that Shadow Cabinet members didn’t know that this letter was being sent this evening. And they are not happy. Hilary Benn was out on the airwaves saying the case for strikes was ‘compelling’ shortly before the letter was sent.
https://soundcloud.com/spectator1828/hilary-benn-on-the-case-for-intervention-in-syria
And this reveals one of the central problems with Corbyn’s leadership, which is not so much to do with his views, but to do with his approach to colleagues. Many Labour MPs liked Corbyn, but feel as though he does not really respect them when they question his stance on issues. Intriguingly, some of them feel that John McDonnell handled Monday’s PLP meeting better than Corbyn has managed previous sessions because McDonnell actually engaged with and answered their questions, whereas Corbyn appeared to be talking at them. Some feel as though they are not being respected, though Corbynites argue that no-one is even bothering to respect the leader. But this letter shows that Corbyn is at least keen to engage in the show of strength that his frontbenchers had planned. Monday’s meeting will indeed be the ‘point of reckoning’ that Shadow Cabinet members had predicted.
Full text of the letter:
Dear Colleague,
The Prime Minister made a Statement to the House today making the case for a UK bombing campaign against ISIS in Syria. A copy of my response has already been circulated.
We have all been horrified by the despicable attacks in Paris and are determined to see the defeat of ISIS.
Our first priority must be the security of Britain and the safety of the British people. The issue now is whether what the Prime Minister is proposing strengthens, or undermines, our national security.
I do not believe that the Prime Minister today made a convincing case that extending UK bombing to Syria would meet that crucial test. Nor did it satisfactorily answer the questions raised by us and the Foreign Affairs Select Committee.
In particular, the Prime Minister did not set out a coherent strategy, coordinated through the United Nations, for the defeat of ISIS. Nor has he been able to explain what credible and acceptable ground forces could retake and hold territory freed from ISIS control by an intensified air campaign.
In my view, the Prime Minister has been unable to explain the contribution of additional UK bombing to a comprehensive negotiated political settlement of the Syrian civil war, or its likely impact on the threat of terrorist attacks in the UK.
For these and other reasons, I do not believe the Prime Minister’s current proposal for air strikes in Syria will protect our security and therefore cannot support it.
The Shadow Cabinet met today for an initial discussion and debated the issues extensively. We will meet again on Monday, when we will attempt to reach a common view.
I will get in touch again when we know the timing of the debate and vote.
Yours
Jeremy Corbyn,
Leader of the Labour Party
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