A spokesperson for Jeremy Corbyn, commenting on his unavailability to attend the Privy Council, says:

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The Scottish government has imposed a moratorium on underground coal gasification (UCG). Cluff Natural Resources had been planning to use the technique to extract gas from under the Firth of Forth near Kincardine.

The company halted work on the project in August until the political debate on the issue was resolved. Campaigners had been calling for UCG to be added to the existing moratorium on onshore unconventional oil and gas. The Scottish government said it was treating UCG as a separate technology to onshore unconventional oil and gas, which includes hydraulic fracking.

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BBC political correspondent Iain Watson tells the BBC News Channel that people cannot read "a huge amount" into Jeremy Corbyn's non-attendance at the Privy Council today.

"It is possible to join that body without actually attending a meeting in person," Iain says, adding that a shadow minister has said "he did expect Jeremy Corbyn to join the Privy Council in the traditional way".

However, if the Labour leader wanted to avoid accusations of being unpatriotic, perhaps he "would have rearranged his diary".

The World at One
BBC Radio 4

Also on the World at One was constitutional expert David Rogers, author of a book on the Privy Council. Asked about the possibility of Jeremy Corbyn joining the body without a formal ceremony, he says he hasn't heard of orders in council being given because someone doesn't want to meet the Queen.

Of the traditional swearing-in ceremony, Mr Rogers says: "If you're a republican, it is a load of nonsense." But in a democracy with an elected Parliament and a monarchy, "the Privy Council is the nuts and bolts between the two".

And would the Queen mind if Mr Corbyn does not attend a formal ceremony?

The World at One
BBC Radio 4

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Crossbench peer Lord Owen, who helped to broker the famous Dayton peace deal which brought an end to the war in Bosnia, said the Russians are "bombing because they were told by Assad a few weeks ago that they were in grave danger of losing Damascus". He says he hopes Russia is not "foolish enough" to get involved in a ground war.

He claims that the Syrian capital "could easily be taken over" by Islamic State if President Assad falls. He proposes an alternative: neighbouring Jordan could run Damascus "under a UN mandate".

The World at One
BBC Radio 4

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Former Nato secretary general Anders Fogh Rasmussen tells the World at One that Russian involvement in Syria will "further complicate" the situation and will "fuel the recruitment of fighters to Islamic State". He says Russia could bolster Assad "in the short term" but adds:

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BBC Radio 4

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Conservative MP Crispin Blunt, who chairs the Commons foreign affairs committee, was asked if the West will have to negotiate with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. "I think it might have to negotiate with Russia," he replies.

Does that mean the West being dictated to by Russia? He says: "That is the reality. The [UN] Security Council is the only body that can authorise action against members states" and action can be vetoed.

The former minister says he thinks a contact group is "an excellent idea" which "worked really well" in Bosnia. Those involved could use their "common interest to form a common policy".

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In the Scottish Parliament earlier, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon came under fire from Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale over what Ms Dugdale called the "serious allegations" around the property dealings of SNP Westminster MP Michelle Thomson.

Scotland's Lord Advocate has said he does not believe there should be an inquiry into the legal proceedings against a lawyer who was struck off over property deals involving Ms Thomson, who has resigned the SNP whip in Commons and denies all wrongdoing.

Ms Dugdale asked if the Law Society has met its responsibilities in relation to this matter. Nicola Sturgeon said the Law Society was independent and a "regular critic" of the government. She says the Crown Office acted speedily and appropriately, according to the Lord Advocate, and the police investigation must be allowed to do its work.

Jeremy Corbyn's excuse for not attending today's Privy Council meeting - citing "prior commitments" - is "a little bit odd" and he's used it before when pulling out of interviews, says former Labour adviser Matt Forde.

The Daily Politics

Labour's Matt Forde says he was impressed with David Cameron's speech to the Conservative Party conference yesterday - but adds that his centre-ground rhetoric is undermined by plans to cut tax credits. The policy, he adds, feels reminiscent of Gordon Brown's 10p tax rate (which sparked a big row within the Labour Party).

The Daily Politics

Jeremy Corbyn "will see the Queen and become a Privy Counsellor" in future, says shadow minister Jon Ashworth, who's asked about the Labour leader's lack of attendance at today's Privy Council meeting.

Mr Corbyn won't be going because of "prior commitments", his spokesman has said.  

Mr Ashworth notes David Cameron took "three months" before first attending a meeting of the Privy Council. He says of Mr Corbyn: "He is going to do it and I'm sure he'll do it in an appropriate and respectful manner, and will get on with it soon."

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Therese Coffey is challenged over cuts to tax credits. She defends the reasons for reforming the system and says the "typical family" will be better off under the government's plans overall. It's reported that a growing number of Tory MPs are concerned about the plans and will seek changes to the policy. Ms Coffey says: "We have that policy, that's what we're sticking to," adding that the party was "elected on a mandate to reduce welfare". 

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Jon Ashworth insists that the Labour Party will campaign for Britain to remain in the European Union whatever the outcome of the prime minister's renegotiations. There are some in the party who want a Brexit "but we're not split in the same way the Conservative Party is", he adds.

Put to him that Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn voted No to Europe in the 1975 referendum, Mr Ashworth responds: "Did he?... I wasn't born in 1975 so I hadn't realised he voted that way." He says the majority of the party, "including Jeremy", will fight to keep Britain in the EU.

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On the in/out EU referendum, Therese Coffey is pressed over the PM's renegotiations of Britain's terms of membership - and whether disunity in the party looms over the vote.  She says there are some in the party who want to leave the EU "regardless", but she believes most want to stay in a reformed EU "and I'm confident the PM can deliver that". The party is "grown up" about this, she adds.

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Conservative deputy leader of the Commons Therese Coffey is asked whether she's expecting the PM to bring forward a vote on Syria when Parliament returns. She says the government must build a consensus among MPs in favour of UK involvement in air strikes against so-called Islamic State in Syria, but adds that the PM doesn't need to set out a "timetable" for a vote.

Shadow cabinet minister Jon Ashworth is asked whether there's a settled view - in the shadow cabinet and wider Labour party - on UK action in Syria. He says the party is not clear about what the PM will propose, and will take a judgement when it knows more details. He adds that a "political process" is needed in Syria, "probably at UN-level". He also thinks Russia's actions in Syria "changes the situation".

In other news, the Bank of England has held interest rates at their current level of 0.5%. They've been there for quite a few years now and the vote was 8-1 for no change. Follow the developing story.

The Daily Politics

Daily Politics is well under way - you can watch by clicking on the 'live coverage' tab above or alternatively on BBC 2. Joining presenter Andrew Neil in the studio is former Labour adviser-turned-comedian Matt Forde.

Beginning with a discussion on Syria - specifically Russia's air strikes in the country - Forde says the West is reluctant to intervene post-Iraq - something, he argues, that needs to change.