Jeremy Corbyn will try to force a vote in Parliament that would make it difficult for Prime Ministers to take military action without the approval of MPs as he suggested Bashar al-Assad could be innocent of last week’s chemical weapons attack.

The Labour leader suggested on Sunday that all planned use of force should be signed off by the Commons as he announced plans for a “war powers act” which would ensure that all governments are accountable “for what they do in our name”.

Following raids on the Syrian regime's chemical weapons stockpiles on Saturday, Mr Corbyn questioned the legal basis for the mission, adding that Mrs May should have respected a convention supposedly laid down by the coalition government in 2011.

Labour sources indicated that Mr Corbyn will apply to the Speaker on Monday for an emergency debate under a Parliamentary mechanism called Standing Order No24. It allows MPs to call for a debate within 24 hours on matters of national importance.

The Prime Minister will also ask for an emergency debate, but while her bid will not include a request for a vote, Mr Corbyn is likely to ask for a vote which could include a call for Prime Ministers to consult Parliament in future.