Jeremy Corbyn slams UK for 'pouring arms' into Ukraine and refuses to condemn Putin

Jeremy Corbyn slams UK for 'pouring arms' into Ukraine and refuses to condemn Putin
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Tom Evans

By Tom Evans


Published: 02/08/2022

- 11:22

Updated: 14/02/2023

- 10:47

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn hit out at Britain and the West for intervening in the Ukraine war, while refusing to condemn Russia's Vladimir Putin

Mr Corbyn, 73, said British actions are "only going to prolong and exaggerate this war" as NATO provides aid to Kyiv.

He argued: "Pouring arms in isn't going to bring about a solution, it's only going to prolong and exaggerate this war."


Mr Corbyn, a long-time NATO critic, also touched on the defence alliance's expansion and the implications it has to the global economy but stopped short of saying anything critical of Russia's Vladimir Putin.

He continued: "Expanding NATO isn't going to bring about a longer-term peace, [but it] will only bring about greater, greater strain and greater stress."

Jeremy Corbyn speaks at a protest by unions outside the Houses of Parliament, London, over P&O Ferries handing 800 seafarers immediate severance notices last week. Picture date: Monday March 21, 2022.
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn
James Manning

Ken Livingstone speaking to Nigel Farage in the GB News Westminster studio
Ken Livingstone speaking to Nigel Farage in the GB News Westminster studio
GB News

Russian President Vladimir Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin
MAXIM SHEMETOV

Predicting "years and years" of war in Ukraine, he told the Al Mayadeen media network: "What I find disappointing is, that hardly any of the world's leaders use the word 'peace'.

"They always use the language of more war and more bellicose war.

"Ukrainians are dying, Ukrainians are going into exile, thousands and thousands.

"And Russian soldiers are dying, conscripted young Russian soldiers are dying.

"This war is disastrous for the people of Ukraine, for the people of Russia and for the safety and security of the whole world."

It comes after left-wing firebrand Ken Livingstone defended Mr Corbyn's tenure as leader of the Labour Party in an interview on GB News.

He told Nigel Farage: "When you actually look back, Jeremy had been leader for two years and then there was the 2017 election.

"He got the biggest increase in the Labour vote for 72 years and he came within two percent of defeating the Tories.

"But then you had all these lies and smears about antisemitism."

Taken aback, Nigel asked: "They were lies, were they?"

Mr Livingstone hit back: "Of course they were.

"I've been in the Labour Party since 1969. In all that time, I've never heard a single antisemitic comment. I've only ever heard one racist comment, back in 1970.

"The Labour Party has been the political home for the Jewish community for a century.

"When I got elected to Parliament, back in 1987, almost every Jewish MP was sitting on the Labour benches."

Jeremy Corbyn was Labour leader for four years
Jeremy Corbyn was Labour leader for four years
Dominic Lipinski

Mr Livingstone's comments come despite a report by the UK's human rights watchdog finding Labour to be responsible for "unlawful" acts of harassment and discrimination during Mr Corbyn's four-and a-half years as party leader.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) investigation identified serious failings in leadership and an inadequate process of handling antisemitism complaints.

Its report said the party was responsible for three breaches of the Equality Act: political interference in antisemitism complaints, failure to provide adequate training to those handling antisemitism complaints and harassment.

The Forde Report last week also found that infighting within the party meant antisemitism was used as a “factional weapon” by Mr Corbyn's critics and denied by his supporters.

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