Jeremy Corbyn’s anti-war stance is weakened by the free vote on airstrikes

In September, Corbyn was elected by a landslide to lead the party based on his declared anti-austerity, anti-war stance. A reported 300,000 people signed up to the party to support him.

Corbyn has rolled over before a bloodthirsty and politically discredited rump that enjoys little popular support.

Once again, events have supplied a devastating rebuttal to the claims made by Corbyn that he and his supporters could refashion the Labour Party as an instrument for opposing austerity and war.

Alan Hinnrichs

Gillespie Terrace, Dundee

Methinks Jeremy Corbyn has capitulated in time-honoured manner of politicians, once they’ve been elected, to the cavalier conduct of putting career politicking above those who vote them into office.

Westminster is for, in other words, the Big Boys and Girls. Principles – like that other election inconvenience, manifestos – are swallowed up in the anonymity of the ballot box and best left there between elections. Alex Salmond is spot on in denouncing Jeremy Corbyn’s abandonment of his electoral responsibility. Mr Corbyn has succumbed to that self-same cynicism of promoting career politician colleagues over and above the obligation to represent the electorate who supported him into office.

The wonder is we bother with the expense of parliaments and international forums. Far too many of the people who participate in them show no respect for them, let alone the electorates that underpin them.

Ian Johnstone

Forman Drive, Peterhead

Given Labour’s lies and arm twisting over Iraq, Jeremy Corbyn’s principled stance on bombing and his agreement to a free vote is a breath of fresh air and will go a long way to restoring his party’s credibility.

I can’t remember a time when an opposition was so effective in getting a military venture so forensically scrutinised.

Labour, by delivering so many votes, has rendered the SNP impotent.

Allan Sutherland

Willow Row, Stonehaven