McDonnell: Hilary Benn's speech 'reminded me of Blair’

Shadow chancellor John McDonnell says the speech made by Hilary Benn supporting air strikes in Syria reminded him of that made by Tony Blair ahead of the Iraq war.

Mr McDonnell told the Today programme that he was impressed by the shadow foreign secretary’s oratory.

“I’m always anxious that the greatest oratory is going to lead us to the greatest mistakes,” he told presenter Nick Robinson.

Mr Benn was applauded by MPs during the vote on airstrikes after urging them to confront the evil of so-called Islamic State.