Labour MPs branded ‘a disgrace to the nation’ for accusing UK and Nato of provoking Russia over Ukraine – as they perform embarrassing U-turn to slam Vladimir Putin’s invasion and Keir Starmer warns they must ‘reckon with their own consciences’
- Eleven Labour MPs and Jeremy Corbyn backed a Stop the War campaign
- Their letter accused UK of ‘aggressive posturing’ and Nato of expanding East
- But many of them were quick out of the blocks this morning after the invasion
- After berating the West, MP Richard Burgon said invasion was ‘utterly horrific’
- Coventry’s Zara Sultana added: ‘Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is deplorable’
- Keir Starmer said they would have to ‘reckon with their own consciences’
Hard left Labour MPs who blamed the West for provoking Vladimir Putin were branded ”a disgrace to the nation’ today – as they shamelessly turned on the Russian leader for pouring thousands of troops into Ukraine.
Eleven serving opposition MPs plus ostracized former leader Jeremy Corbyn last week backed a Stop the War campaign accusing the UK of ‘inflaming tensions’ by arming Ukrainian troops and blaming Nato for provoking the autocratic Russian leader.
It demanded Nato ‘call a halt to its eastward expansion’ and urged ‘the entire anti-war movement to unite on the basis of challenging the British government’s aggressive posturing and direct its campaigning to that end above all’.
But many of them were quick out of the blocks this morning to attack the bloodshed after thousands of Russian troops, tanks and aircraft mounted a full-scale invasion of its smaller neighbour.
Tory MP Stuart Anderson – who sits on the defence select committee – said: ‘This is a disgrace to the nation.
‘I served in Bosnia and Kosovo and some of my friends didn’t return. Nato is a defensive alliance and anyone who says otherwise is fuelling dangerous rhetoric.’
Their U-turn came after they were criticised by current Labour leader Keir Starmer. Demanding tough action against Russia he said: ‘Those who have for too long turned a blind eye to Russia’s actions must reckon with their own consciences.’
Eleven serving opposition MPs plus ostracized former leader Jeremy Corbyn (above) last week backed a Stop the War campaign (below) accusing the UK of ‘aggressive posturing’ and blaming Nato for provoking the autocratic Russian leader.
But many of them were quick out of the blocks this morning after thousands of Russian troops, tanks and aircraft mounted a full-scale invasion of its smaller neighbour.
Coventry South MP Zara Sultana said: ‘Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is deplorable. Putin must immediately withdraw Russian forces and cease his bombardment.’
Former shadow minister Richard Burgon, secretary of the hard Left Socialist Campaign Group, tweeted: Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is utterly horrific. Russia must end this attack and withdraw its troops’
Their U-turn came after they were criticised by current Labour leader Keir Starmer. Demanding tough action against Russia he said: ‘Those who have for too long turned a blind eye to Russia’s actions must reckon with their own consciences.’
Days after berating the West, former shadow minister Richard Burgon, secretary of the hard Left Socialist Campaign Group, tweeted: Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is utterly horrific. Russia must end this attack and withdraw its troops.
‘As the UN General Secretary says ”President Putin, in the name of humanity, bring your troops back to Russia. This conflict must stop now.”’
And Coventry South MP Zara Sultana said: ‘Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is deplorable. Putin must immediately withdraw Russian forces and cease his bombardment.’
Sultana and Burgon were joined in signing the document by MPs Mr Corbyn, John McDonnell – a former shadow chancellor, ex-shadow home secretary Diane Abbott, Ian Lavery, Beth Winter, Bell Ribeiro-Addy, Apsana Begum, Mick Whitley, Tahir Ali, Claudia Webbe and Ian Mearns, plus Labour peers Pauline Bryan, Christine Blower and John Hendy.
Hard Left celebs also signed, including prog rock musician Brian Eno , comedians Alexei Sayle and Myriam Margolyes, plus luvvy actor Sir Mark Rylance.
Defence Minister James Heappey told the Mail: ‘Sir Keir Starmer has made clear he supports the Government’s approach.
‘I hope he’ll be able to persuade his MPs and affiliated unions to remove their support from Stop The War’s Nato-blaming campaign.’
Sir Keir served alongside several of the signatories during four years in Mr Corbyn’s shadow cabinet and Red Wall MP Antony Higginbotham noted they include those the Labour MP ‘thought fit to campaign for to become Prime Minister, Home Secretary and Chancellor’.
The youth wing of the Labour Party has taken the same anti-West line as the Corbynite MPs, writing on Twitter: ‘We are especially concerned to see Keir Starmer pushing not only for further engagement with Nato, but celebrating it while attacking Stop The War and other pro-peace activists.’
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