Jeremy Corbyn slams Donald Trump’s war rhetoric and says Syria raids will lead to ‘more bombing, more killing, more war’ as Britain prepares to strike
JEREMY Corbyn has lashed out at Donald Trump's war rhetoric, insisting that bombing Syria won't save lives.
The Labour boss slammed the US President as Theresa May prepared to convene her cabinet to discuss strikes on Syria with the US and France - which could happen within days.
Mr Corbyn said today: “More bombing, more killing, more war will not save life.”
The life-long peacenik went on: "I think the whole would should alarmed at that sort of instant reaction - sending stuff out on social media to make policy."
Politicians across the world are mulling what action to take after horrific photographs of a chemical weapons attack in Syria emerged last weekend.
At least 70 are thought to be dead, including young children, and around 500 were left fighting for their lives after being affected by a mix of toxic nerve agents.
But Mr Corbyn has been accused of "playing into the hands" of the Kremlin after demanding Mrs May hold peace talks with Russia on Syria instead of taking military action.
The Labour leader said the Prime Minister should get “every country including the US and Russia around the table in Geneva” to bring about a political solution to the crisis in Syria.
And he insisted Parliament hold a vote before any military action was taken, despite sickening pictures of choking children during the deadly chemical attack in Douma last week.
He told Sky News this morning that "Parliament must be consulted" before any action is taken and urged Russia and Britain to "hold back, pull back" from war or else the situation could "escalate" dangerously.
"Just imagine if an American missile shoots down a Russian missile or vice versa?" he mused. "Where do we go from there?
";Assad should be dealt with by international law, and sanctions if necessary."
And he told that he hasn't yet decided whether he could force his MPs to vote against military action - if it did ever come to a vote in Parliament.
But his own brother Piers Corbyn has even said the attack is "fake" - and part of a narrative to make Jeremy look anti-war before local elections.
Mr Corbyn's attack on the US President came at the same time as Mr Trump tweeted this morning that an attack on Syria "could be very soon or not so soon at all".
The US President backed away from claims yesterday that Russia should "get ready" for American "smart" missiles.
And he added: "You shouldn't be partners with a Gas Killing Animal who kills his people and enjoys it!"
But taking a step back from action Mr Trump said in a message on Twitter this morning: "Never said when an attack on Syria would take place. Could be very soon or not so soon at all!
"In any event, the United States, under my Administration, has done a great job of ridding the region of ISIS. Where is our “Thank you America?”"
The Prime Minister will summon her ministers back to London today to discuss joining strikes on Syria.
An emergency meeting to discuss a possible military reponse to Bashar al-Assad's chemical gas atrocities.
She is set to ask senior ministers for permission to join proposed US action led by Donald Trump and backed by Emmanuel Macron.
In other developments this morning:
- Tory rebels who have previously tried to block bombing raids on Syria signalled a change of heart
- MPs ramped up the pressure on Mrs May to seek the permission of Parliament before carrying out airstrikes
- A new poll showed just 22 per cent of Brits back military action against the Syrian dictator
- Assad's regime claimed to have won control of Douma, the rebel enclave which was targeted with chemical weapons last week
Jeremy Corbyn STILL can't bring himself to blame Putin for Salisbury poison attack
JEREMY Corbyn has again refused to pin the blame on Russia or Putin for the Salisbury nerve agent attack - even as official chemical inspectors backed the UK's assessment.
The Labour leader said on a school visit to Derby today: "I think somebody was obviously responsible for it and that somebody has to be found. My view is that the use of nerve agents is obviously vile and wrong.
"Those that did it must be held responsible.
"Clearly, Novichok is of Russian design and Russian origin, but the investigation should take place on this."
When he was asked directly whether he thought it was Putin, he said: "I don't say it is or isn't. I say an investigation must take place so the finger of blame can be pointed with evidence behind it.
"I think any differences between countries have got to be evidence-based so that we do have a legal basis for our complaints against whoever did it."
Today the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons said it agreed with the UK's findings on the identity of the poison used to attack Sergei and Yulia Skripal.
After an investigation requested by the UK, it backed up Britain's analysis.
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said that it had confirmed it was a "military grade nerve agent - a Novichok" and the full results would be published for all to see if they wanted to.
"This is based on testing in four independent, highly reputable laboratories around the world," he said. "All returned the same conclusive results.
"There can be no doubt what was used and there remains no alternative explanation about who was responsible – only Russia has the means, motive and record."
Russia still denies it is behind the attack and has claimed they have never made Novichok at all.
As he demanded a fresh session of the OPCW next week, Mr Johnson demanded: "The Kremlin must give answers.
"We must, as a world community, stand up for the rules based order which keeps us all safe.
"The use of weapons of this kind can never be justified, and must be ended."
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Ministers were last night told they must shelve or change other plans to allow them to focus on the unfolding crisis.
This morning David Davis - who has previously opposed strikes on Syria - signalled support for military action, saying he was "assured" the PM has thought through the consequences of hitting back.
US sources have suggested that Mr Trump is planning to begin raids on Assad's bases this weekend, after he and his defence chief Jim Mattis scrapped planned trips away from Washington.
As well as Britain and France, the White House is hoping to convince Middle Eastern powers such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar to join the bomb attacks.