Tories target Jeremy Corbyn’s security record as polls suggest Labour advance
Mr Corbyn has made his strongest attempt yet to distance himself from the IRA.
The Tories and Labour have clashed after senior Conservatives claimed Jeremy Corbyn would pose a security risk if he enters Number 10 after the General Election.
The direct assault on Mr Corbyn’s record came as further polls suggested Labour was eating into Theresa May’s lead as the June 8 General Election approaches.
The Tories released a video showing the Labour leader boasting about opposing anti-terror legislation and dodging questions over whether he would condemn the IRA.
Home Secretary Amber Rudd suggested victory for Mr Corbyn would “absolutely” increase the risk of future atrocities.
Mr Corbyn said he has been vocal in opposing “executive control orders that are not subject to judicial oversight” as he defended his previous voting record on anti-terror measures. Appearing on ITV’s Peston On Sunday, Mr Corbyn said: “I do support work with the police and our security services on intelligence-led actions.”
Mr Corbyn earlier made his strongest attempt yet to distance himself from the IRA, saying he was “appalled” by the terror gang’s 1991 mortar attack on Downing Street and stressed the bombing campaign was “completely wrong because it was taking civilian lives”.
On Peston On Sunday, Mr Corbyn insisted he had not “spoken to the IRA” but had met “former prisoners who have told me they were not in the IRA”. He said “we could give credit to all those – unionists and republicans” who were involved in bringing peace to Northern Ireland.
Mr Corbyn’s ally, shadow home secretary Diane Abbott also tried to distance herself from claims she had supported the IRA in the 1980s, saying: “It was 34 years ago, I had a rather splendid afro at the time. I don’t have the same hairstyle, I don’t have the same views.”
On the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show she also insisted her opposition to MI5 had ended since the 1980s: “It has since been reformed and of course I would not call for its abolition now.”
Labour would recruit an additional 1,000 staff to the security and intelligence agencies MI5, MI6 and GCHQ to help in the battle against extremist violence.
Ms Rudd told The Mail On Sunday: “I spend two hours every day signing security warrants. The only thing Corbyn would sign is our security away. He’d be a disaster.” Asked if she was suggesting the prospect of Mr Corbyn in Downing Street meant an increased risk of atrocities, she stressed that she was not linking it to the Manchester bomb, but added: “It absolutely does, yes.”
Pressed on the issue on The Andrew Marr Show she added: “I would say look at the evidence. The evidence is that Jeremy Corbyn and Diane Abbott and John McDonnell have all a history of not supporting terrorist legislation.”
Sunday newspaper polls found support for Tories ranging between 43% and 46% and for Labour between 32% and 38%, with Liberal Democrats trailing on 7%-9%.
