Labour MPs criticise Jeremy Corbyn's 'deplorable' stance on military action in Syria

'Ultimately there are some people who are pacifists in our party who would never ever sanction the use of force or military intervention in any circumstance'

Jeremy Corbyn is a long-standing opponent to military intervention

Several Labour MPs have criticised Jeremy Corbyn's stance on military action in Syria, after he warned UK intervention in Iraq and Afghanistan has increased the threat of terrorism to Britain.

He told Labour's South West regional conference in Bristol he wants a "different kind of foreign policy - based on a new and more independent relationship with the rest of the world - where war is a last resort".

His defiant message has been criticised by several Labour MPs.

Mike Gapes, former chairman of the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, said it would be "deplorable" if Labour failed to back military action in Syria, The Mirror reports.

Chuka Umunna, who was formerly a party leader candidate, argued Mr Corbyn's views should disqualify him from office.

He told the Today programme on BBC Radio 4: “The first duty of any elected representative, not just ministers, is to do all we can to ensure the security of our constituents, particularly in the face of the terrorist threat we are facing.

“This goes above and beyond party politics, and dare I say it internal party politics. Because if you cannot keep the people safe in their eyes, that is a disqualification from office.”

While he did not mention Mr Corbyn by name, his thinly veiled comments directly target the Labour leader's stance.

“Ultimately there are some people who are pacifists in our party who would never ever sanction the use of force or military intervention in any circumstance. I don’t share those views.”

Despite repeated criticism from his party, Mr Corbyn has repeated his refusal to give Labour MPs a free vote on extending British air strikes in Syria.

Both Mr Umunna and John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, support a free vote for Labour MPs on Syria.

"I've always had a bit of a preference for free votes,” the Mr McDonnell told LBC Radio.

A free vote would allow Labour MPs to vote how they please, rather than in a certain way enforced by their party's Whips.

David Cameron said the case for military intervention in Syria had only "grown stronger" since Islamist terrorists killed 129 people in the devastating terror attacks in Paris.

In a rare unanimous vote, the UN has called on the world to unite against Isis.