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Corbyn “cannot support UK air strikes in Syria”

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Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn wrote to his MPs saying that he did not support UK air strikes in Syria, and disagreed with Prime Minister David Cameron that taking on ISIS would make the United Kingdom safer.

A shadow cabinet member has already criticized him. The frontbencher said there would be shadow cabinet resignations if Corbyn ordered the shadow cabinet to support his stance.

corbyn
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 16: Jeremy Corbyn poses for a portrait on July 16, 2015 in London, England. Jeremy Bernard Corbyn is a British Labour Party politician and has been a member of Parliament for Islington North since 1983. He is currently a contender for the position as leader of the Labour Party. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Labour is divided regarding the air strikes, with about half believed to back such intervention measures.

Jeremy Corbyn’s choice to write to his MPs before the shadow cabinet had reached an agreement was criticized by a senior shadow minister, who told BBC assistance political editor Norman Smith: “There will be resignations among senior members of the shadow cabinet over this.”

He noted that Mr. Corbyn’s letter had led to a breakdown of trust within the cabinet, who had not been consulted before the letter was sent.

The Prime Minister has not directly responded, but Downing Street sources said, according to the BBC: “It’s not a great surprise that Jeremy Corbyn has come out against air strikes. The issue is how many Labour MPs feel able to support him.”