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| Syria crisis: Corbyn accuses May of waiting for Trump's instructions – live | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The shadow home secretary, Diane Abbott, has struggled to defend Labour’s call for a UN-led inspection into the Douma attack. | |
| Asked on the BBC Radio 4’s Today programme whether Labour would back intervention if the Organisation for the Prevention of Chemical Weapons confirms chemical weapons had been used she said: “Let’s see what the inspectors come up with. Even in the US there is an understanding that we don’t have all the evidence.” | |
| When it was pointed out that Russia had repeatedly vetoed calls for a UN-led investigation into the use of chemical weapons in Syria, Abbott said: “There has to be a political negotiation. We would press on trying to bring people to the table. We believe more bombing is not the answer to the crisis in Syria.” | |
| “There is a response which falls short of more bombing. We believe there needs to be a coordinated international drive to achieve a ceasefire and a negotiated political settlement.” | |
| Asked about the circumstances in which Labour would support military action, Abbott cited the Second World War. But she repeatedly refused to say what circumstances she would back military action now. | |
| “There is no evidence to show that further bombing in Syria will make the region more stable,” she said. | |
| She was also asked which country posed the biggest threat to world peace: Russia or the US. After trying to avoid the question she eventually said: “It is clear that at this point Russia, its role in Syria, what we believe beyond reasonable doubt its role in the poison gas attack in Salisbury, is a greater threat to world peace than the United States.” | |
| A split in the shadow cabinet over military action in Syria has emerged. | A split in the shadow cabinet over military action in Syria has emerged. |
| Shadow International Development Secretary Kate Osamor told the House magazine that “intervention must take place” if the UN concludes the Syrian government was behind the alleged atrocity. | Shadow International Development Secretary Kate Osamor told the House magazine that “intervention must take place” if the UN concludes the Syrian government was behind the alleged atrocity. |
| Politics Home reports her saying: “If a leader is killing their own they need to be removed. We don’t keep them there. They need to go. He needs to be removed. | Politics Home reports her saying: “If a leader is killing their own they need to be removed. We don’t keep them there. They need to go. He needs to be removed. |
| “Intervention must take place if evidence comes back that the PM or the president or whoever the leader is, is gassing his own people. Get them out. | “Intervention must take place if evidence comes back that the PM or the president or whoever the leader is, is gassing his own people. Get them out. |
| “If a leader is killing their own they need to be removed. We don’t keep them there. They need to go. He needs to be removed.” | “If a leader is killing their own they need to be removed. We don’t keep them there. They need to go. He needs to be removed.” |
| “But I suppose what we’ve seen is it’s not as easy as that. And I think that’s where Jeremy’s position comes from. It’s not as easy as just removing someone.” | “But I suppose what we’ve seen is it’s not as easy as that. And I think that’s where Jeremy’s position comes from. It’s not as easy as just removing someone.” |
| There are growing calls for the government to give parliament a vote before launching any military intervention in Syria. | There are growing calls for the government to give parliament a vote before launching any military intervention in Syria. |
| A Downing Street statement issued after Thursday’s cabinet meeting made no reference to whether MPs should be given a say. | A Downing Street statement issued after Thursday’s cabinet meeting made no reference to whether MPs should be given a say. |
| Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable and Ian Blackford, leader of the SNP in Westminster have both urged May to give MPs a vote. | Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable and Ian Blackford, leader of the SNP in Westminster have both urged May to give MPs a vote. |
| Ken Clarke, former chancellor and father of the House of Commons, said parliament should be recalled this weekend. “You don’t just waive aside accountability to parliament because it is inconvenient. Saturday or Sunday you could sit,” he told the BBC. | Ken Clarke, former chancellor and father of the House of Commons, said parliament should be recalled this weekend. “You don’t just waive aside accountability to parliament because it is inconvenient. Saturday or Sunday you could sit,” he told the BBC. |
| In a letter to May, SNP defence spokesman Stewart McDonald said: | In a letter to May, SNP defence spokesman Stewart McDonald said: |
| I am not convinced that the retaliatory airstrikes being proposed by the United States is a proper way forward. Though should the UK government wish to participate then it must only do so if the UK parliament gives its consent. This is a view shared by a cross-party group of MPs who have signed EDM 92 to that effect, and a number of your own colleagues who have put forward this view in the media these past few days. | I am not convinced that the retaliatory airstrikes being proposed by the United States is a proper way forward. Though should the UK government wish to participate then it must only do so if the UK parliament gives its consent. This is a view shared by a cross-party group of MPs who have signed EDM 92 to that effect, and a number of your own colleagues who have put forward this view in the media these past few days. |
| Despite Donald Trump’s slightly more circumspect rhetoric over Syria on Thursday it is hard to escape the drum beat for military intervention. | Despite Donald Trump’s slightly more circumspect rhetoric over Syria on Thursday it is hard to escape the drum beat for military intervention. |
| The Times claims the largest US air and naval strike force since the 2003 Iraq war is heading towards Syria. | The Times claims the largest US air and naval strike force since the 2003 Iraq war is heading towards Syria. |
| Tomorrow's front page: Biggest task force since Iraq on course for Syria #tomorrowspapertoday pic.twitter.com/jeZBmfzu6B | Tomorrow's front page: Biggest task force since Iraq on course for Syria #tomorrowspapertoday pic.twitter.com/jeZBmfzu6B |
| Last night the UK cabinet unanimously backed Theresa May’s warning that Syria’s use of chemical weapons could not go unchallenged, leaving the way open for British participation in military action. | Last night the UK cabinet unanimously backed Theresa May’s warning that Syria’s use of chemical weapons could not go unchallenged, leaving the way open for British participation in military action. |
| Downing Street said senior ministers had agreed it was highly likely the Syrian government was responsible for the “shocking and barbaric” gas attack on the rebel-held town of Douma, which killed up to 75 people. | Downing Street said senior ministers had agreed it was highly likely the Syrian government was responsible for the “shocking and barbaric” gas attack on the rebel-held town of Douma, which killed up to 75 people. |
| Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has accused the government of “waiting for instructions” from Donald Trump adding that military intervention risks “escalating an already devastating conflict”. | Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has accused the government of “waiting for instructions” from Donald Trump adding that military intervention risks “escalating an already devastating conflict”. |
| In a statement issue early on Friday morning he called for a UN-led investigation of the chemical weapons attack in Douma. | In a statement issue early on Friday morning he called for a UN-led investigation of the chemical weapons attack in Douma. |
| Corbyn added: | Corbyn added: |
| “Further UK military intervention in Syria’s appalling multi-sided war risks escalating an already devastating conflict. | “Further UK military intervention in Syria’s appalling multi-sided war risks escalating an already devastating conflict. |
| “The Government appears to be waiting for instructions from President Donald Trump on how to proceed. But the US administration is giving alarmingly contradictory signals. | “The Government appears to be waiting for instructions from President Donald Trump on how to proceed. But the US administration is giving alarmingly contradictory signals. |
| “Even US defence secretary James Mattis has said we ‘don’t have evidence’ and warned further military action could ‘escalate out of control’.” | “Even US defence secretary James Mattis has said we ‘don’t have evidence’ and warned further military action could ‘escalate out of control’.” |
| Meanwhile, Russia has been granted a request for the United Nations Security Council to meet on Friday for fresh discussions on the threat to international peace from air strikes on Syria. And a team from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons is due to start its investigation in Syria on Saturday. | Meanwhile, Russia has been granted a request for the United Nations Security Council to meet on Friday for fresh discussions on the threat to international peace from air strikes on Syria. And a team from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons is due to start its investigation in Syria on Saturday. |
| On Friday campaigners from the Stop the War Coalition will hand in a letter signed by MPs, trade unionists, celebrities and academics to Downing Street urging May to not take military action in Syria. | On Friday campaigners from the Stop the War Coalition will hand in a letter signed by MPs, trade unionists, celebrities and academics to Downing Street urging May to not take military action in Syria. |