BARROW and Furness MP John Woodcock believes that "now is not the time" for Jeremy Corbyn to stand down as leader of the Labour Party amid divisions over the possibility of air strikes in Syria. 

Jeremy Corbyn is facing a shadow cabinet revolt after saying he could not support action against IS in Syria.

Prime Minister David Cameron has urged wavering Labour MPs to back military intervention in Syria, telling them to "vote on the basis of the arguments". The Prime Minister said there was a "compelling" case for airstrikes and insisted MPs would allow the country to do the "right thing" if they supported them.

Some senior Labour MPs called for Mr Corbyn's resignation following the latest split and Barrow MP Mr Woodcock, who has been outspoken in his support for air strikes in Syria, said on BBC News that it was "certainly unusual" that Labour's shadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn was at odds with Mr Corbyn over the issue. 

Referring to the possibility of Labour MPs being allowed to vote individually, instead of in agreement as a party, Mr Woodcock said: "(A free vote) may well be the only practical way through."

When asked by the Evening Mail if Mr Corbyn should stand down, Mr Woodcock said: "I don't think this is the time to resign."

Mr Woodcock called for attentions to be focused on the "fundamentally important matter" of the so-called Islamic State rather than divisions within the Labour Party.