Jeremy Corbyn has demanded MPs be given a vote in Parliament to authorise potential military action in Syria.

The Labour leader insisted the House of Commons "should always" be given a say on UK military intervention.

Mr Corbyn spoke as the Prime Minister offered her strongest signal yet she could authorise UK force in response to a suspected chemical weapons attack in the Syrian city of Douma.

The US and France are also contemplating military action, although Russia - which backs Syrian President Bashar al Assad and has troops in the country - has warned of a response if Syrian government facilities are struck by Western nations.

Image: Theresa May said 'all the indications' are that the Syrian regime is to blame for the chemical attack

Theresa May stated "all the indications" are that the Syrian regime is to blame for the Douma attack, which reportedly killed 70 people and injured 500.


The United Nations health agency has cited reports from its partners that show signs of exposure to toxic chemicals among the Douma victims.

The Prime Minister said: "We will be working with our closest allies on how we can ensure that those who are responsible are held to account and how we can prevent and deter the humanitarian catastrophe that comes from the use of chemical weapons in the future.

"The continued use of chemical weapons cannot go unchallenged."

Mrs May sidestepped a question on Wednesday over whether she would recall Parliament from its Easter recess to discuss the attack.

She also stated "there can be no role now for investigations by the United Nations" after Russia used its UN Security Council veto on Tuesday night to block efforts to create a new body to determine responsibility for the attack.

Image: A child is treated following the alleged chemical weapons attack in Douma

However, Mr Corbyn urged the Government to "listen to what the UN says" and wait for an "inquiry into the source and usage of the chemical weapons".

He joined calls for the Prime Minister to have to win the approval of Parliament before ordering any UK military action in Syria, stating: "Parliament should always be given a say on military action.

"That's a case that I've made going back many, many years in Parliament. Obviously the situation is very serious, obviously there has to be, now, a demand for a political process to end the war in Syria."

The Labour leader also warned against a "bombardment which leads to escalation and leads to a hot war between Russia and America over the skies of Syria".

Mr Corbyn stressed a need to resume peace talks over Syria and to "get every country, including the US and Russia, as well as the neighbouring states, around the table in Geneva to bring about a political solution".

Babies caught up in 'chemical attack'

Both the Liberal Democrats and the SNP are calling for Parliament to be given a vote on fresh UK military action in Syria, too.

The Prime Minister is also being cautioned against rushing into action by her own MPs.

Senior Conservative backbencher Julian Lewis, chair of the House of Commons Defence Committee, told Sky News: "When it's a question of us deciding to intervene in the fights between third parties, particularly third parties like the Syrian government and the Syrian opposition... then surely this is something that Parliament has to decide first.

"I know President (Donald) Trump wants to take quick action, well that's his choice.

"He can choose either to act immediately, or if he wants to have the support of allies, then he's got to allow those allies the opportunity."

Image: Douma sits just outside Syria's capital, Damascus

Fellow Tory MP Bob Seely, a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, also speaking to Sky News, warned: "Bombing without a strategy is gesture bombing - (it's) really dangerous."

Sir David Amess agreed with his Conservative colleague Dr Lewis, stating: "On this particular matter we certainly need to debate it in Parliament first before we join in any action."

But Tom Tugenhadt, the Tory chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, said: "Striking Syria's stockpiles of chemical weapons would degrade their ability to commit further war crimes and could be done together with allies.

"It would not require a vote in Parliament."

Former Tory minister Nick Boles offered Mrs May his "strong support" if she decided to join the US and France in taking action.

"Parliament should have a chance to debate the crisis early next week, but this should not become an excuse for inaction or delay," he said.

In 2013, the House of Commons rejected possible UK military action against President al Assad following a previous suspected chemical weapons attack.