Black Country Labour MP: If anyone should resign over Syria air strike debate it's Jeremy Corbyn

There are splits in the Labour party about how the UK should intervene in Syria.

Some Labour MPs were angered after Mr Corbyn issued a letter following Thursday's shadow cabinet meeting saying the Prime Minister had failed to make a 'convincing case' and that he could not support further military intervention.

The move was seen by some as an attempt to pre-empt next week's shadow cabinet meeting while appealing over the heads of MPs.

Labour's leader is struggling to contain a revolt after saying he could not support RAF action against IS.

The shadow cabinet will meet again on Monday, but it appeared that Mr Corbyn would face a rebellion from his top team if he tried to force them to oppose action.

Warley MP John Spellar described Mr Corbyn's behaviour as 'unacceptable'.

"I think he's trying to mount a coup against the shadow cabinet," Mr Spellar said. "There are proper issues to be discussed about this – about what sort of ground forces, what alliances should be made with countries in the region.

"The fact is he goes back to his office with all the far-left people there and they wind each other up. Then he thinks he can bypass his shadow cabinet and the Parliamentary Labour Party." Shadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn has insisted he will not resign in protest at Mr Corbyn's opposition to bombing in Syria.

Mr Benn backs military action against Islamic State and suggested that Labour may end up agreeing to a free vote on the issue despite the party's leader's hopes for a 'common view'.

The PM said there was a 'compelling' case for airstrikes and insisted MPs would allow the country to do the 'right thing' if they supported them. Mr Spellar backed shadow cabinet members to stand their ground in the debate – suggesting if anyone should resign it should be Mr Corbyn.

"If anyone should resign after this incident, it should be Jeremy Corbyn."