Jeremy Corbyn didn’t create the conflict in Syria

‘By 2013 Syrian suffering had already been hugely aggravated by western mistakes in which Mr Corbyn had no part,’ writes John Heawood. Photograph: AP

Professor Philip Spencer (Corbyn taken to task over the war in Syria, Letters, 4 October) identifies the House of Commons vote in August 2013 against military intervention in Syria, which he attributes in part to Jeremy Corbyn’s influence, as the prime cause of the terrible situation in Syria today.

By 2013 Syrian suffering had already been hugely aggravated by western mistakes in which Mr Corbyn had no part – for example, prioritising regime change in ceasefire negotiations and maintaining a hostile attitude towards Russia. But let that pass.

Given Professor Spencer’s eminence, and his letter’s vehemence, we must assume that he has a very clear, comprehensive and well-evidenced assessment of exactly what would have happened following UK military intervention in Syria in 2013, and how it would have reliably prevented the present nightmare. Sadly he didn’t favour us readers with his insights.
John Heawood
York

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