The Guardian reports: A furious row between Downing Street and the Labour leadership has erupted after No 10 accused Ed Miliband of giving “succour” to the Assad regime after he moved to block an early Commons vote on military action.

As Cameron rejected a Labour amendment on Syria, the prime minister’s spokesperson accused Miliband of “flipping and flopping” and of having moved the goalposts in negotiations over the past 48 hours.

Asked whether Miliband was giving succour to the Assad regime, another Downing Street spokesperson said: “Yes. The fact is that a lot of the arguments over this could give succour to the regime.”

Labour immediately hit back. A spokesman said: “That is frankly insulting. Language like that demeans Downing Street.”

Miliband was already angry after a government source used expletives overnight to criticise Miliband. A government source told the Times on Wednesday night: “No 10 and the Foreign Office think Miliband is a fucking cunt and a copper-bottomed shit.” [Continue reading…]