Hypocrisy over Reagan visit

The embattled Labour leader has been accused of hypocrisy after it emerged he condemned US President Ronald Reagan for a ‘disgraceful’ visit to a cemetery where Nazi officers were buried.

Jeremy Corbyn, then a backbencher, argued that the 1985 visit, which was organised in the spirit of reconciliation between the US and Germany, would cause ‘offence’ to Jews.

he called on Mr Reagan to cancel the trip to the Bitburg military cemetery in Germany because it contained the graves of 49 SS officers. Mr Reagan wanted to honour German war dead with a wreath.

In an early day motion, Mr Corbyn said it would be an ‘offence to the memories of Jews and so many others persecuted and murdered by the Nazis, and... insensitive and ill-advised’.

he said the planned visit was ‘disgraceful’ and argued that although there was no suggestion Mr Reagan would be near Stormtrooper graves, their very presence would cause ‘offence’.

Mr Reagan went ahead with the visit despite an outcry, particularly from holocaust survivors. Mr Corbyn claimed his visit to a cemetery in Tunis where terrorists were buried was made in the spirit of reconciliation.

Tory MP Andrew Bridgen last night said: ‘Jeremy Corbyn is a hypocrite. This is a clear example of double standards.’