Corbyn leads a rag-tag army of Lefties against the President
JEREMY Corbyn led an extraordinary attack on US President Donald Trump last night as he condemned his ‘misogyny, racism and hate’.
On a day when tens of thousands of mainly Leftwing protesters took to the streets, the UK Labour leader launched a blistering tirade.
Amid chants of, ‘Oh, Jeremy Corbyn’, he attacked Mr Trump’s record on immigration and climate change and called for the ‘politics of togetherness’.
The veteran Left-winger – who if elected to Number 10 could one day stand opposite Mr Trump – then applauded the ‘wonderful gathering’. ‘Our diversity is a message of solidarity,’ he said. ‘We are asserting our right to demonstrate, our right to free speech. I wish to live in a world of peace, not of war.’
The incendiary intervention raised fears that the hostile reception could permanently damage relations with our closest ally and friend. One critic highlighted how Mr Corbyn is willing to meet IRA terrorists but criticises Theresa May for greeting the most powerful man in the world.
It came after Mr Trump suggested he may never return to London after ‘puerile’ protests led by a caricature ‘baby blimp’ balloon.
The US President said he felt ‘unwelcome’ in the city as an angry army of thousands took to the streets.
They were led by a rag-tag, Left-wing army bearing improvised instruments, babies and the infamous balloon.
Among the most vocal protesters were hardline Corbynistas, revolutionary communists, socialist workers and black rights groups. They were joined by members of Cage, which once described Islamic State killer Jihadi John as a ‘beautiful young man’, clad in orange jumpsuits.
Six people were arrested for offences including assault and an attack on a police officer, as well as for breaches of public order and parole.
Addressing the crowds in the shadow of Nelson’s Column, Mr Corbyn said: ‘We’re asserting our right to demonstrate, our right to free speech and our want for a world that is not divided by misogyny, racism and hate.
‘It’s not about interfering in the affairs of another country. But when somebody on a global stage condemns Muslims because they’re Muslim, it’s not acceptable and we will call it out.
‘What this wonderful gathering does today is say to the rest of the world, “We want human rights for the rest of the world, we want justice for the rest of the world”.’
Earlier at Islington Town Hall, Mr Corbyn had said Britain should not be ‘rolling out the red carpet’ for Mr Trump. In an online video he said the President had been invited ‘at a time when his dangerous and inhumane policies are putting the lives and wellbeing of millions at risk’.
Mr Trump was flown out of Central London before thousands could mass for the protests. Ministers pulled out all the stops to show him the ‘best of British’ during a whistle-stop tour of spectacular military pageantry.
Yet despite keeping the world’s most powerful man away from Central London, he is unlikely to miss TV coverage of streets thronged with protesters.
After lunch at the PM’s Chequers country home, he declared the relationship between Britain and America remains ‘the highest level of special’.
But it was clear the protests may have hit home. Hours earlier, Mr Trump had said: ‘I guess when they put out blimps to make me feel unwelcome, no reason for me to go to London.
‘I used to love London as a city. I haven’t been there in a long time. But when they make you feel unwelcome, why would I stay there?’
‘I wish to live in a world of peace’