Corbyn prepared for debate over Syria intervention

Jeremy Corbyn has said he is aware there could be “differences of view” over whether Labour should support airstrikes on ISIS in Syria, but is adamant that his own opposition to military interventions has not changed.

Despite this, the new leader expressed his desire to find “unity” on the issue during an interview with the New Statesman, which could rule out a free vote for Labour MPs when it comes to be debated in the House of Commons. New Shadow Business Secretary Angela Eagle opened up the possibility of a frontbench split on the topic, refusing to rule out support for airstrikes in The Telegraph.

Corbyn tried not to lay out too firm a position on Syria, “because we don’t actually know what, if anything, the Government is going to bring before Parliament”. However, he was very clear that his personal “views on military interventions are very well known and they haven’t changed.”

He also praised how Ed Miliband managed the last vote on intervention in Syria in 2013, saying that he had got to a position where the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) was “fairly united”: “Clearly, there may be differences of view and Ed Miliband went through the same experience and ended up with a fairly united position. I will obviously attempt the best unity I can get on this.”

Angela Eagle told The Telegraph that she would not rule out supporting bombing raids on ISIS position, stating the she is “not a pacifist” but would not vote for “gratuitous military action”. Eagle says that the Shadow Cabinet will have to come a “collective decision” on their position, and claims not to know what Corbyn’s view would be.

She said: “We’ll have to discuss it at Shadow Cabinet. I have no idea what’s in Jeremy’s mind – I haven’t talked to him about this.” When asked if she would rule out action in Syria, she replied: “I certainly wouldn’t. I’m not a pacifist, though I’m not in favour of gratuitous military action.”

Corbyn also told the New Statesman that while he enjoyed the new approach he took to PMQs last week, he is likely to try a different tactic in future. “The crowdsourcing we did for Prime Minister’s Question Time was absolutely fascinating”, he said, before adding:

“I want to be seen – and I am – to be asking questions that people are asking. There will always be an element of that in it. But I’ll probably choose fewer subjects in future, because if you choose three subjects, you can’t follow through properly. Maybe choose one area and follow it through in six questions.”