Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn refused to condemn Hamas at a left-wing event held outside the Labour Party conference.
Mr Corbyn said he did not “support any attacks”, but in a tetchy exchange with journalists declined to set out his view on Hamas despite being repeatedly asked whether he would condemn the group.
What’s happening over there is an absolute tragedy and just a shit situation all around for everyone but purely in terms of political timing this is a free kick for Labour to show how they’ve changed since 2015. Lammy’s announcement will go some way to win back support that Labour lost during those years. No doubt it will also anger many on the fringe of the party .
Can you imagine where we’d be if those fringe elements had managed to keep Corbyn in charge like they wanted? He’d be doing exactly what he’s been doing today (refusing to criticise Hamas for raping and murdering civilians) and we’d be facing another 5 years of Tory destruction.
Sure I’d like Kier to be more outspoken and advertise more specific progressive policies, but he’s playing to win. He’s refusing to give the Tory press ammunition and it’s working. Once they are in they can actually do stuff to help the British people.
I think we’ll be pleasantly surprised about the scope of the agenda once we’re closer to the election and there’s less time for the right wing media to try and brainwash people against the manifesto.
Those on the fringes don’t matter, because they’re not the ones who will win Labour an election.
Nothing someone says before the word “but” really counts. I’m glad this tragedy is doing wonders for your political faction.
Give it a rest mate.
Vintage Corbyn - Can’t bring himself to condemn an actual terrorist attack against Israelis.
It’s so easy to directly and clearly condemn Hamas, whilst also supporting innocent Palestinians and Israelis, yet he simply cannot do it. 🤔
It was the same when Russia invaded Ukraine too, he couldn’t bring himself to condemn Russia for the invasion, but instead just blamed NATO.
Corbyn seems like he’d be right at home on Lemmygrad.
@galmuth @mannycalavera why are you still obsessed with him? He’s not a Labour MP. He said he does not support any attacks.
why are you still obsessed with him? He’s not a Labour MP.
He’s a prominent ex Labour leader that fought two general elections for the party and has (had) a massive influence on left leaning politics in the UK. He’s hardly unworthy of comment. If he were totally irrelevant he wouldn’t be attending a fringe meeting at Labour party conference. In short, he’s still newsworthy.
He said he does not support any attacks.
As others have said this is obfuscation is what people don’t like about him. It was the same when he was leader and the same stance he took with Brexit that lost him all those votes in the North. He doesn’t support attacks, excellent. So that means he doesn’t support a proscribed terrorist group… errr look away everyone nothing to see here.
We get that he’s pro peace but why he simply doesn’t say “I condemn Hamas terror attacks and I condemn Israel over retaliation” is completely beyond most people.
@mannycalavera You understand he’s “pro peace” but because he hasn’t said it in the very specific way you want means you have to bring him up in the way you did? He said “any attacks”, get over it.
I am pro peace and thoroughly condem brutal attacks by Hamas.
Why is this so hard for him to say?
By not saying it like this he’s inviting criticism upon himself. By sitting on the fence it suggests he’s comfortable with what they’ve done. He’s supposed to be a politician.
I’m glad Labour is now distancing themselves from him because it invites criticism to whatever party he’s aligned with too.
I’m not obsessed with him, it’s in the news and I’m commenting on it.
You’re right, the guy is now irrelevant but I find it funny that even after being repeatedly savaged in the media for cosying up to and refusing to condemn Hamas, he hasn’t learned a thing and he still can’t do it.
@galmuth he said “any attacks”. Get over it. Accusing him of “cosying up” when trying to initiate dialogue is petty.
Convicted antisemite refuses to condemn Hamas: film at 11
Extra, extra! Read all about it! Spineless liberals cozy up to apartheid state!
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LOL wtf are you talking about?
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Corbyn is the best. Labour cowards
This is the best summary I could come up with:
Speaking to a fringe event at the Labour conference, Mr Lammy said “Israel has a right to self-defence against terrorism”.
Mr Corbyn said he did not “support any attacks”, but in a tetchy exchange with journalists declined to set out his view on Hamas despite being repeatedly asked whether he would condemn the group.
The former leader is sitting as an independent MP after being removed from Labour’s parliamentary party over his response to a report on antisemitism under his leadership.
Speaking at the Labour conference Mr Lammy reminded members that “Hamas is a proscribed terrorist organisation” in the UK.
Labour’s official position is to support a two-state solution respecting “sovereignty of Israel and the dignity and human rights of Palestinians,” Mr Lammy said.
Sir Keir described the rocket fire and incursions from Gaza as an “appalling terrorist attack”, saying Israel has “every right to defend herself”.
The original article contains 488 words, the summary contains 147 words. Saved 70%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!
