Battling indiscipline

FROM the heat of battle to the parade ground, British soldiers are widely regarded as the world’s finest: immaculately professional and highly disciplined.

So it was profoundly disheartening that troops on an Afghanistan firing range have let down themselves, the Army and their country by using an image of Jeremy Corbyn for target practice.

Rightly, the disturbing social media clip has been roundly condemned.

The Prime Minister denounced the prank and red-faced commanders are investigating. Labour MPs howled with outrage, condemning the ‘shocking’ footage.

The Mail concurs. Not only does this episode tarnish the Army’s hard-won reputation, it is thoroughly distasteful to use pictures of real people as bulls-eyes.

Also, while IRA supporter Mr Corbyn would axe the military in a heartbeat, he is the Labour leader and deserves a measure of respect.

And in these febrile times, when politicians receive death threats, utmost care must be taken not to legitimise the warped worldview of those who might resort to violence.

But let’s not lose all perspective. However unsavoury, these were ill-judged childish shenanigans by young men in a war zone. Entirely correctly, they will be punished.

And before the Left shrieks too loudly, they should recall the deafening silence when Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell called for then Tory Cabinet minister Esther McVey to be ‘lynched’.

Respect, to steal a phrase, should be for the many, not just for the few. ÷IS

it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s little litter-busting superhero The Flash! The caped crusader (aka four-year- old Parker Lawrie, but DON’T tell baddies his real identity!) spends hours clearing rubbish from streets and parks.

He donned his scarlet costume after learning in class how discarded waste harms wildlife. Parker supports the Great British Spring Clean, which has attracted 530,000 readers. Why not join the mission?