Jeremy Corbyn has again refused to directly blame Russia for the Salisbury nerve agent attack, urging the Government not to "rush ahead of the evidence".

In an article for The Guardian, he says Theresa May must remain "calm" and "measured" in what is, he says, a "fevered parliamentary atmosphere".

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Mr Corbyn writes: "Labour is of course no supporter of the Putin regime, its conservative authoritarianism, abuse of human rights or political and economic corruption."

But he adds: "That does not mean we should resign ourselves to a 'new cold war' of escalating arms spending, proxy conflicts across the globe and a McCarthyite intolerance of dissent."


Corbyn jeered as Labour MPs back PM on Russia

A "McCarthyite intolerance" refers to the practice of making accusations of subversion or treason without proper regard for evidence.

Mr Corbyn added: "In my years in parliament I have seen clear thinking in an international crisis overwhelmed by emotion and hasty judgements too many times.

"Flawed intelligence and dodgy dossiers led to the calamity of the Iraq invasion. There was overwhelming bipartisan support for attacking Libya, but it proved to be wrong."

His words have sparked further fury among some of his backbenchers, who openly disagreed with their leader after his comments in the Commons on Wednesday.

There is growing tension and unease among many within Labour about his response to the attack, which saw former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia poisoned using a military-grade nerve agent.

May calls Salisbury attack a 'despicable' act

A group of Labour MPs led by John Woodcock have defied their leader and tabled a motion offering their support for the Government's expulsion of 23 Russian diplomats.

Asked by Sky News whether the UK would be safe with Mr Corbyn in No 10, Mr Woodcock said: "I understand why you ask that question, but I think it's important - at a time when the UK has found itself under attack with chemical weapons - that actually we focus on what the UK Government, the UK state can do and that we all as MPs, of whatever party, give support to that where appropriate."

A prominent backbench MP has said the party needs to have a "fundamental debate" about its worldview.

Stephen Kinnock - a longstanding Corbyn critic - told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that his Guardian article "hasn't helped to clarify the situation" and rejected the comparison with the the Iraq War, saying "that sort of drift to conflict is not on the agenda at all".

Mr Corbyn has also been criticised by the father-in-law of Nick Bailey, the police officer who remains in a serious condition in hospital after attending the scene where Mr Skripal and his daughter were found.

Defence Secretary: 'Russia should shut up'

William Pomeroy told the Daily Telegraph that he was "very disappointed" in the Labour leader's stance, adding: "He's said almost nothing about this and come across as very weak on it. He seems to have been a bit mealy mouthed about Russia's involvement."

Mr Corbyn said he supports the actions taken by Theresa May, but would only back further sanctions "as and when the investigation into the Salisbury attack produces results".

The Labour leader has said he believes "the evidence points towards Russia", but his repeated reluctance to point the finger of blame directly at Moscow is angering and concerning many within Labour.

Sky's senior political correspondent Jason Farrell said: "The expulsion of 23 diplomats has been the only action thus far by the UK Government. This then poses the question, in what way does Jeremy Corbyn think Theresa May has rushed 'ahead of the evidence'?

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"His article seems to be saying that he too would expel Russian diplomats but without robustly blaming the Russian state for what happened in Salisbury. One wonders what Russia would say to that?"

There is a clear divide between Jeremy Corbyn's office and those in the party who struggle with his position on national security and foreign policy.

And it is a division Conservative MPs are keen to exploit.

Tensions within Labour come as a Sky Data poll revealed that 57% of Britons believe Mr Corbyn is doing a bad job dealing with the aftermath of the Salisbury incident. Just 18% believe he is doing a good job.