LABOUR MPs were granted a free vote yesterday over whether Britain should bomb Syria, but members overwhelmingly stand with Jeremy Corbyn in opposing air strikes. 

Three-quarters of Labour members want want the party’s MPs to vote against David Cameron’s bid to bomb Syria, according to a snap consultation carried out over the weekend. 

More than 100,000 Labour members, party supporters and trade union members took part in an unprecedented exercise in party democracy. 

Analysis of the 64,771 members who responded found 75 per cent don’t want to see British bombs dropped on Syria. 

That compares with just 13 per cent who support bombing and another 11 per cent who are undecided on the emotive issue. 

The results were revealed on the day Mr Corbyn met his shadow cabinet and MPs to hammer out the party’s position. 

Some suggested it gave Mr Corbyn the ammunition to argue for the party to vote en-masse against strikes.

But after emerging from a two-hour meeting, a spokesman for Mr Corbyn revealed: “Today’s shadow cabinet agreed to back Jeremy Corbyn’s recommendation of a free vote on the government’s proposal to authorise UK bombing in Syria.”  

“The shadow cabinet decided to support the call for David Cameron to step back from the rush to war and hold a full two-day debate in the House of Commons on such a crucial national decision.”

Mr Corbyn has written to the Prime Minister to request the two-day sitting.

“It is incumbent on us all to ensure the country feels there has been the fullest parliamentary discussion of what you have rightly described as a highly complex situation,” he wrote.

Mr  Cameron set to make a statement on Syria last night and could call a vote as soon as tomorrow. 

Although Labour MPs have been given a free vote, the Star understands that most shadow cabinet members believe the conditions for action in Syria agreed by party conference have not been met. 

Backbench MP Emily Thornberry, a former human rights QC, also called the evidence for bombing “thin, damned thin.”

And Mr Corbyn said an extended debate was necessary to “call David Cameron to account on the unanswered questions raised by his case for bombing.”

Concerns centre on what ground forces Britain would support, how supplies to Islamic State (Isis) would be cut off and dealing with any subsequent rise in the number of refugees.

Blairite MP John Woodcock, who backs bombing, welcomed the free vote and said the move would make resignations from the shadow cabinet over the issue less likely.

But Plaid Cymru MP Jonathan Edwards, who opposes air strikes, said: “By allowing a free vote on this matter, Jeremy Corbyn is paving the way for the Prime Minister to succeed in securing a Commons majority in favour of the UK launching air strikes in Syria.”

Green MP Caroline Lucas said the PM should follow Mr Corbyn’s example and give Tory MPs a free vote.

Defence select committee chairman Julian Lewis is among senior Tory backbenchers who were sceptical of Mr Cameron’s plan.

And Ms Lucas said: “The debate on such crucial issues is greatly diminished when MPs are subjected to the pressure of the whips offices.”

Labour whips believe as many as 100 of Labour’s 231 MPs back airstrikes, while 132 would follow Mr Corbyn into the No lobby.

A senior Labour source said both Mr Corbyn and shadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn will speak for the party in the Commons debate, even though they would vote in opposite directions.