Corbyn backs activists’ line that Britain was provocative
JEREMY CORBYN yesterday promoted a statement from the Stop The War organisation that criticised the British Government for its “provocative role” in the Ukraine crisis.
The former Labour leader, a prominent critic of Western interventionist foreign policy, called on the UK to oppose further expansion east of Nato –one of Russia’s key requests in the current stand-off.
The group’s statement also condemned the Russian troop incursion in Ukraine and called for the restoration of diplomacy.
The comments come after Sir Keir Starmer, the current Labour leader, took steps to distance himself from Stop The War, a peace group criticised by some for its perceived anti-american attitudes.
Sir Keir has attempted to reassert Labour’s support for Nato after Mr Corbyn’s lukewarm stance on the defence alliance during his years as Labour leader.
Mr Corbyn tweeted yesterday: “The Russian forces that have entered Eastern Ukraine should immediately withdraw. The UK Government should encourage a return to the
Minsk-2 agreement to end the crisis and oppose further eastward NATO expansion. Diplomacy must resume.”
He also included a link to a 300-word statement on the Russian troop incursion posted by Stop The War which included criticism of the Western foreign policy in eastern Europe.
Part of the statement read: “The conflict is the product of 30 years of failed policies, including the expansion of NATO and US hegemony at the expense of other countries as well as major wars of aggression by the USA, Britain and other NATO powers which have undermined international law and the United Nations.
“The British Government has played a provocative role in the present crisis, talking up war, decrying diplomacy as appeasement and escalating arms supplies and military deployments to Eastern Europe.
Earlier this month Sir Keir criticised Stop The War in an article published in The Guardian.
Sir Keir wrote: “At best they are naive, at worst they actively give succour to authoritarian leaders who directly threaten democracies.
“There is nothing progressive in showing solidarity with the aggressor.”