Labour MPs are to be offered a free vote on extending airstrikes against Islamic State in Syria, while Jeremy Corbyn maintains that his opposition to the strikes will be the party’s official policy.
The party’s press office refused to comment on reports that the Labour leader agreed the deal during talks with his shadow cabinet.
Mr Corbyn has been under huge pressure from his party after writing to Labour members saying that he would oppose the strikes, despite promising his MPs that the discussion was still live.
At the weekend it was suggested that David Cameron might abandon the plans if Mr Corbyn decided to impose the whip, as the prime minister has been clear that he wanted to be sure of a parliamentary mandate.