Jeremy Corbyn faces full-blown rebellion over Syria as one of his own frontbenchers called for strikes on Bashar al-Assad
As the Labour leader called for more evidence of Syria’s involvement, Kate Osamor insisted ‘intervention must take place’ – and said her boss should keep quiet
JEREMY Corbyn faces a full blown rebellion over Syria as one of his own frontbenchers called for strikes on Bashar al-Assad declaring: “Get him out.”
As the Labour leader called for more evidence of Syria’s involvement, Shadow Development Secretary Kate Osamor insisted “intervention must take place”.
And she risked a further furious backlash from her party leader by saying it would be best if he kept his mouth shut on all foreign policy issues to avoid rows with the media.
It came as Jeremy Corbyn requested a special secret intelligence briefing on the Government’s evidence behind the Syria attack.
The Labour leader has not so far been given a briefing on Privy Council terms - which he won’t be able to share with MPs.
He said yesterday he wanted to see the “whole picture” and questioned what would happen if a US missile hit a Russian plane.
In an interview with Parliament’s House magazine, Ms Osamor, said: “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.”
But it came as Mr Corbyn demanded a vote on any action saying bombs only kill more people: "Parliament must be consulted on this.
“Surely the lessons of Iraq, the lessons that came there from the Chilcot report, have got to be - there has to be - a proper process of consultation."
Asked about her leader’s recent comments on halting the sale of arms to Israel, the Edmonton MP said her boss should keep quiet.
She added: “First and foremost, he should allow the spokesperson for that department really to respond. “It’s not that he shouldn't have said it [Corbyn's statement on Gaza].
“But if that’s what he’s being assessed on - that’s what he’s being judged on - then he should just let his spokesperson speak because it seems that whatever he says is not good enough - it’s too strong or it’s not strong enough.”
“When actually, he’s the leader. So, it should be Emily or me, whoever, should be responding. And maybe that’s what he should do."
Ms Osamor’s words came as outspoken backbencher John Woodcock urged fellow MPs to back action in Syria and ignore their leader’s stance.
He said: “As scores lies dead in the city of Douma, the UK should be part of a united front which makes clear that the use of these evil weapons will always attract severe consequences.
“If the Government can rediscover the will to protect civilians against this growing threat, I am confident many Labour MPs will want to play their part and rise above the excuses and diversions which emanate from the shadow front bench whenever there is a crisis.”