Corbyn blow as Starmer backs Tories

MP JOINS CALL TO MOVE WORLD CUP

PRESSURE is mounting on the Government to demand that Fifa removes the World Cup from Russia.

Senior Labour MP Stephen Kinnock yesterday added his voice to those calling for the tournament to be rescheduled.

Theresa May has resisted calling for the England team to boycott the event following the Salisbury nerve agent attack.

However members of the Royal Family and Government officials will not be attending.

The event, due to kick off in Moscow on June 14, is expected to be exploited by Russian president Vladimir Putin as a huge PR opportunity for his country.

However, Mr Kinnock said Fifa should be asked whether it was appropriate JEREMY Corbyn was left in further isolation last night over his delay in backing sanctions against Russia after the Salisbury attack.

The Labour leader lost the support of shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer for refusing to condemn the Putin regime and initially back the expulsion of Russian diplomats.

Mr Corbyn claimed the nerve agent attack could have been a mafia hit and accused his critics of behaving like 1950s McCarthyites who tried to ban communists from US public life.

But speaking on BBC’s Question Time, Sir Keir said: “I think it’s very important that we support the action the prime minister laid out as a response to this unprovoked attack.”

Finally confirming Labour’s support for Mrs May’s actions, Mr Corbyn added: “Measures to tackle the oligarchs and their loot would have a far greater impact on Russia’s elite than limited tit-for-tat expulsions.” to mount a celebration of football in a state suspected of being behind the deployment of a nerve agent on British streets.

Mr Kinnock said: “I think we should consider making a co-ordinated approach to Fifa and talk about moving the World Cup to 2019.

“Putin has invested billions of roubles in the World Cup and sees it as an opportunity to showcase his regime to the world.”

The Prime Minister has said no Government ministers or members of the Royal Family will attend the tournament.

The Foreign Office has warned England fans they should “be aware of the possibility of anti-British sentiment or harassment”.