Labour MPs 'will support' UK airstrikes in Syria

The RAF began strikes against IS targets in Iraq last September

The government will get the necessary support from Labour MPs to extend air strikes to Syria, research by the BBC's Newsnight programme suggests.

Labour MPs told the programme they were willing to defy Jeremy Corbyn, who is expected to oppose military action, if he is elected party leader on Saturday.

The government is expected to draw up proposals within the next few weeks for missile attacks in Syria.

In 2013 it was defeated in a vote on UK military action in Syria.

Labour's then leader, Ed Miliband, opposed Prime Minister David Cameron's attempt and 31 Conservative MPs joined him, inflicting a humiliating defeat on the government.

'Counsel of despair'

On Tuesday Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said parliament needed to "rethink the absurdity" of RAF jets being able to bomb targets in Iraq but not Syria.

The UK has been carrying out airstrikes against Islamic State militants in Iraq since last September.

This week it emerged that two British Islamic State jihadists were killed by an RAF drone strike in Syria.

Mr Cameron said it had been an "act of defence" and was therefore lawful, despite MPs voting against military intervention in the country.

If veteran anti-war campaigner Mr Corbyn is elected on Saturday as Labour leader, he is all but certain to oppose government action in Syria.

Newsnight has spoken to 14 Labour MPs who have said that, providing safeguards are put in place and various criteria satisfied, they would be willing to defy a Mr Corbyn-led party and instead vote with the Conservative leadership.

Shadow Europe minister Pat McFadden said Labour should vote to support air strikes in Syria.

When asked if that included defying the view of Mr Corbyn if he becomes leader, Mr McFadden told Newsnight: "If our response to questions like this was never to authorise military intervention because of what had happened in the past I think it would be a counsel of despair to victims of oppression around the world.

"I wouldn't like Britain to take that stance and I wouldn't like the Labour party to take it either."

'Comprehensive strategy'

Newsnight understands the Conservative whips currently believe fewer than 20 Conservative MPs will rebel.

If the SNP, Lib Dems and Democratic Ulster Unionist MPs all join forces to oppose Conservative plans, that means 13 Labour MPs would be needed to see the vote passed.

Jo Cox, the new Labour MP for Batley and Spen, told Newsnight: "If the PM can convince me that he has a comprehensive strategy on Syria with a humanitarian, political and military component then I would contemplate two things: the first would be support for extending airstrikes airspace over Syrian airspace to target ISIS and the second would be UK support for a no-fly zone over Syria."