Jeremy Corbyn has accused the UK government of “waiting for instructions” from the US on how to proceed in the Syrian crisis after the allies vowed to work closely together on an international response.



The Labour leader warned that military intervention against President Bashar al-Assad’s regime in the wake of a devastating chemical weapons attack on the rebel-held town of Douma risked escalating an already devastating conflict.

He urged the UK government to push for an independent United Nations-led investigation into the attack so that those responsible could be held to account. Russia has repeatedly blocked such a move at the UN security council since the start of the civil war seven years ago.

Corbyn called for a political solution to the conflict. Diane Abbott, the shadow home secretary, went further, saying the Labour party believed there was no military answer to the Syrian crisis.

Corbyn’s remarks came after the 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 against the regime.

The prime minister spoke to Donald Trump by phone on Thursday night about the crisis, with the two leaders agreeing to work closely together on the international response. They stressed that Syria must be prevented from launching a similar attack on its own people in future.



However, the US defence secretary, James Mattis, said Washington was still looking for evidence on who carried out the attack, adding that his main concern about a military response was how to stop it escalating out of control.

Corbyn said: “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.”

He added: “Britain should press for an independent UN-led investigation of last weekend’s horrific chemical weapons attack so that those responsible can be held to account.

“Rather than further military action, what is urgently needed is a coordinated international drive to achieve a ceasefire and a negotiated settlement under UN auspices. The humanitarian priority must be to halt the killing on all sides.

“The need to restart genuine negotiations for peace and an inclusive political settlement of the Syrian conflict, including the withdrawal of all foreign forces, could not be more urgent. We must do everything we can, no matter how challenging, to bring that about.”

In an interview on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Abbott deflected questions on why a UN-led investigation into previous chemical attacks in Syria had not taken place. She said a Labour government would “press on” with trying to bring countries round the negotiating table, even in the face of further Russian vetoes.

“The Labour party believes there is no military solution in Syria,” she said. “There has to be a political negotiation.” Asked whether Labour did not believe in military action in any circumstances, she replied: “No. There was the second world war.”

Abbott said that giving up on the possibility of a political solution was to “give up all hope”, adding: “What we’re interested in is an end to the violence and we don’t believe that further bombing in this situation will bring an end to violence.”

She was asked three times whether she believed Russia or the US was a greater threat to world peace, before conceding that, “at this point”, given its role in Syria and Salisbury, Russia posed the higher risk.

The shadow home secretary said it would be “outrageous” for the government to launch military action without giving MPs a vote in parliament. “The reason they are not doing it is they are frightened they will lose the vote,” she said.

The Labour leader has asked for a security briefing – on privy council terms – before Thursday’s cabinet meeting, but it is understood no response has been received from No 10.

Labour is also actively exploring ways to bring a debate on any military action to parliament, but will have difficulty forcing a Commons vote. The party does not have any scheduled opposition debates next week.

It could potentially force an SO24 emergency topical debate – a technical procedure that would allow the House to vote on whether there should be a vote to authorise military action. However, the vote would not be binding on the government, which has shown over the past six months it is minded to abstain and effectively ignore opposition motions.

