UK Tory MP apologises to Labour’s Corbyn over spy claim

LONDON: A vice chairman of Britain’s Conservative Party apologised to Labour’s Jeremy Corbyn after tweeting that the opposition leader had ‘sold British secrets to communist spies’.

Tory MP Ben Bradley sent the message following reports that Corbyn had met with a Czechoslovakian spy masquerading as a diplomat during the Cold War. Corbyn’s legal team threatened Bradley with court action for defamation unless he issued an apology.

“I fully accept that my statement was wholly untrue. I accept that I caused distress and upset to Jeremy Corbyn by my untrue and false allegations, suggesting he had betrayed his country by collaborating with foreign spies,” said Bradley.

“I have no hesitation in offering my unreserved and unconditional apology,” he added, saying he would donate a sum to a local food bank in lieu of damages.

Labour said it was “pleased Ben Bradley has admitted what he said was entirely untrue and apologised”.

The party brushed off claims by a former spy for then Czechoslovakia that veteran leftist Corbyn had knowingly cooperated with the communist intelligence agency, calling it a “ridiculous smear”.

“The former Czechoslovak agent Jan Sarkocy’s account of his meeting ... has no credibility whatsoever,” a spokesman for Corbyn said in a statement.

The Sun, a right-wing tabloid opposed to Corbyn, published documents last week purportedly from the Czech State Security Archive referring to meetings between an agent and Corbyn in 1986.

The Sun said Corbyn had been given the codename ‘COB’. — AFP