Jeremy Corbyn criticises 'the US assassination' of Iran’s top general
Jeremy Corbyn, the current leader of the Labour
party who is set to step down following a Conservative landslide at the last
general election, has said “the US assassination” of the general “is an
extremely serious and dangerous escalation of conflict in the Middle East with
global significance”.
In a statement, Corbyn notes: “The UK government
should urge restraint on the part of both Iran and the US, and stand up to the
belligerent actions and rhetoric coming from the United States.”
Here’s a roundup of reactions from Labour leadership
hopefuls to a US airstrike in Baghdad killing Qassem Suleimani, Iran’s top
general.
Nick Robinson, BBC’s Radio 4’s Today programme host,
described the event as “a very early test for those who want to be leader of
the opposition”.
Keir Starmer, the current frontrunner to win the
Labour leadership, tweeted that the incident is “an extremely serious
situation” and called for all sides to de-escalate tensions.
The Labour MP Lisa Nandy, who is also considering a
run to replace Jeremy Corbyn, described the airstrike as “a very dangerous
moment”. She added: “Seventeen years after the catastrophic decision to go to
war in Iraq, violence still rages every day. World leaders must stand up to
Trump. The last thing we need is another all-out war.”
Jess Phillips, the Labour MP who is expected to
formally declare her bid to lead the Labour party, said: “Reckless foreign
policy does not show strength. It’s not a game. The consequences of the
escalating tensions between the US and Iran are not to be underestimated, not
just once again on the civilians in the region but on the whole world.”
Robinson asked Melanie Onn, a Labour MP who lost her
seat but is supporting Phillips: “Should people like Jess Phillips take a sort
of Corbyn stand, or should she be wary of those who criticise Mr Corbyn for
seeming to back the wrong side in international conflict.” In response, Onn
said: “I don’t think that anyone who is trying to emulate somebody else is the
right person for the Labour party.”
