Corbyn under fire from his own MPS as he refuses to criticise Russia
JEREMY CORBYN last night refused to condemn Russia and warned the UK would be wrong to cut off contact, drawing cries of “shame” and “disgrace” from across the chamber.
Labour and Conservative MPS turned on Mr Corbyn as he followed the Prime Minister’s statement about the state’s involvement in the nerve agent attack in Salisbury by calling on
the Conservatives to stop taking donations from former Russian citizens.
He was heckled by MPS who shouted “shame” as he said Britain should engage in “robust dialogue with Russia ... rather than simply cutting off contact”.
Mr Corbyn has been challenged on his views on Russia on a number of occasions, after appearing on the state’s broadcast channel Russia Today.
Seumas Milne, Mr Corbyn’s closest adviser, has come under pressure in the past after it emerged he interviewed
Vladimir Putin during a trip to Russia paid for by the Kremlin.
The Labour leader was also accused of meeting with a Czech spy while a Labour MP, although he denied knowing of the man’s background.
Mr Corbyn’s statement prompted Labour MP John Woodcock to imply that Mr Corbyn would put national security at risk if he were in charge, while Conservative MP Johnny Mercer said it was “the most shameful moment thus far in the House of Commons”.