Diane Abbott could quit front bench if Labour votes for Syria intervention

Shadow Health Minister and former leadership candidate Diane Abbott has suggested that she may quit the front bench if Ed Miliband whips the party to support military action in Syria. She told the Guardian that:

“I voted against the Iraq War. At the moment, I can’t see anything that would make me vote for intervention in Syria. Essentially it’s a civil war. What Libya and Egypt have taught us is that these situations in the Middle East are complex. It’s not good guys in white hats and bad guys in black hats.”

Abbott went on to say that if she was whipped to vote for military action, she would be placed in a “very difficult position” as breaking the whip would mean losing her front bench role. Abbott also told the Guardian that she would only back action if it was legal under international law, saying:

“I wouldn’t support anything that wasn’t legal and the only legal way would be UN backing.”

However it’s now looking likely that the US (and probably the UK) will act regardless of UN backing.