Jeremy Corbyn warns MPs there's 'no hiding place' from consequences of their votes to strike Isis in Syria

'The vast majority of party members are opposed to war in Syria, the majority of Labour MPs are opposed to war in Syria'

Jeremy Corbyn said of his MPs that ‘people of conscience have reached different views’ (Reuters)

Jeremy Corbyn has warned his MPs there is “no hiding place” from the consequences of their vote on Syrian air strikes, after both sides in Labour’s verbal civil war on the issue continued to trade insults in the media.

MPs supporting military action have claimed they were facing intense pressure and vitriolic attacks from those who reject the Government’s plan. But opponents and those close to Mr Corbyn privately accused a section of the party, led by the shadow Foreign Secretary Hilary Benn, of using the issue to undermine their leader.

“Hilary Benn is the driving force trying to persuade MPs to back air strikes,” said one Corbyn ally. “This is not about an issue of conscience. This is about undermining Jeremy and the vast majority of the party who supported his leadership.”

This was roundly rejected by the Benn camp, who claimed that the pressure was coming entirely from the leadership in an attempt to reduce rebel numbers. “There is some really nasty stuff going on,” said one Labour source in favour of air strikes. “There are lots of emails, Twitter and Facebook abuse. One female MP was in tears earlier today. The pressure to vote with Corbyn is enormous.”

In an interview on the Jeremy Vine show on Radio 2 Mr Corbyn said he had agreed to a free vote because he recognised there were “differences of opinion within the party”.

But he added: “The vast majority of party members are opposed to war in Syria, the majority of Labour MPs are opposed to war in Syria. I hope every MP will recognise there is no hiding place on whipping; you have got to make up your own mind.”

Clive Lewis, a shadow frontbencher who is a strong Corbyn supporter, warned that Labour MPs who voted with the Government would face reprisals if the air strikes lead to more terrorist attacks. “If there are members of the Parliamentary Labour Party that want to bomb in Syria and vote with the Tories, then on their heads be it.”

But Mr Benn said his colleague should accept that MPs should be able to reach “different decisions”.

“People of conscience have reached different views about what the right thing to do is, and those views are sincerely held and we should respect them,” he said.