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Jeremy Corbyn has suggested the government should consider back channel talks with ISIS to find a "political solution" in Syria.

The Labour leader said "there has to be some route through somewhere" to end the terrorist takeover that has killed thousands of civilians in the war-torn nation.

He said Britain had maintained a "back channel" to the IRA and Taliban and it was important to find ISIS' "strong points" and "weak points".

Dialogue was the "wrong word", he said, but he insisted discreet talks were already happening between the terror group and neighbouring nations.

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He told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show: "The British government maintained a channel to the IRA all through the Troubles. I don't condemn them for that, I don't condemn them for having a back channel to the Taliban.

(Image: Reuters)

"I think you have to look at the sources of ISIS funding, you have to look at the relationship with Turkey, with Saudi Arabia, with Iran.

"I think there has to be some route through somewhere.

"Because remember, a lot of the commanders in ISIL particularly in Iraq but to some extent in Syria are actually former officers in the Iraqi army.

"Because we made many catastrophic mistakes, one of which was to destroy the whole Iraqi state structure after 2003."

When asked if Britain should open a dialogue, Mr Corbyn added: "No, dialogue is perhaps the wrong word to use.

(Image: BBC)

"I think there has to be some understanding of where their strong points are, where their weak points are, and how we can challenge their ideology.

"I believe the neighbouring governments in the region are in touch. Look at the way in which there's been some degree at times of prisoner exchange, of hostage exchange.

"We've got to bring about a political solution in Syria. That's something I've been calling for all along.

"War crimes have got to be addressed."

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Mr Corbyn's remarks today came in a wide-ranging interview which also discussed poverty, homelessness and "grotesque" executive pay.

The Labour leader said the 80:1 ratio of bosses' to workers' pay had to be brought down, although he did not set an exact figure.

He vowed a return to manufacturing and said he wanted to end a nation of "people sleeping on the streets while people are driving past in expensive cars".

He also repeated his pledge yesterday to block fatcat firms that don't pay the full living wage from giving dividends to their shareholders.

"We will bring in a proper living wage," he said.

"In the interim we are saying to companies that if you are able to pay out dividends - these are listed companies - then you should first of all check your wage bill."

Mr Corbyn also rebuffed Mr Marr's complaint that Labour was losing ground in opinion polls, saying they were "fascinating" but not the full story.

He said the party won the Oldham West by-election with an increased share of the vote, adding: "The evidence on the ground is our party is working very hard, we're getting support."