Corbyn under fire on Maduro

JEREMY CORBYN has been accused of “defending a dictator” over his stance on Venezuela, by the widower of murdered Labour MP Jo Cox.

Brendan Cox, a former chief strategist at Save the Children, spoke out after the opposition leader attacked “outside interference” in the socialist South American country.

Mr Cox attacked the leadership of the country’s president, Nicolas Maduro, which has left the country in the grip of a social and economic collapse that has triggered a humanitarian crisis.

Writing on Twitter yesterday, Mr Cox said: “The future of Venezuela has been taken out of the hands of Venezuelans by an increasingly corrupt and totalitarian state.

“By all means call for dialogue but if you don’t strongly condemn the subjugation of democracy it sounds like you are defending a dictator.”

Mr Corbyn on Friday criticised Jeremy Hunt, saying the Foreign Secretary was “wrong” to demand sanctions against the Maduro regime.

The European Union on Thursday recognised Mr Guaido as interim president in place of Mr Maduro, with Mr Hunt calling for sanctions against the latter. The United States has also recognised his leadership.

But in a Friday tweet, Mr Corbyn said: “The future of Venezuela is a matter for Venezuelans. Jeremy Hunt’s call for more sanctions on Venezuela is wrong.

“We oppose outside interference in Venezuela, whether from the US or anywhere else.

“There needs to be dialogue and a negotiated settlement to overcome the crisis.”

Other senior Labour frontbenchers have also criticised the pressure which is being put on Mr Maduro, who is widely seen as a dictator, accusing the US of attempting “regime change”.

Shadow chancellor John McDonnell, shadow home secretary Diane Abbott and shadow justice secretary Richard Burgon were among a host of left-wing politicians, union leaders and activists who signed a letter to the Observer last Sunday.

It said: “Whatever views people hold on Venezuela, there is no justification for backing the US attempt at regime change under way, which, if successful, could go the way of the disastrous interventions in Iraq and Libya.”