Seumas Milne causes problems for the Guardian

Covering the upcoming Syria vote is proving to be a challenge for hacks at the Guardian. Steerpike understands that the paper is having a difficult time deciding its editorial line on the issue which is currently undermining Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership. Meanwhile, the little fact that Corbyn’s head of comms Seumas Milne — the Guardian columnist and associate editor — is on leave from the paper only complicates matters further.

Now the New Statesman‘s George Eaton reports that the Guardian are even having issues when it comes to their insider briefings. Today’s shadow cabinet meeting over the party’s plan on Syria hit a bum note when seven minutes into the meeting, a number of attendees received an update from the Guardian on their phones informing them of the outcome of the meeting before it had occurred. The article said that a free vote would be held but that Labour party policy would be to oppose military action.

Shadow cabinet members were angered when intended conclusion of meeting was pre-briefed to the Guardian (without Corbyn's knowledge).