- Ken Livingstone said terrorists ‘gave their lives’ in protest at Iraq invasion
- He blamed former prime minister Tony Blair for the 2005 atrocity
- Mr Livingstone said: ‘They gave their lives, they said what they believed'
- The ally of Jeremy Corbyn faced a storm of criticism from panel members
Former London mayor Ken Livingstone sparked outrage last night after claiming the 7/7 suicide bombers who killed 52 people in the capital ‘gave their lives’ in protest at Britain’s invasion of Iraq.
The veteran politician, who is now running Labour’s defence review, was debating the proposed bombing of Islamic State terrorists in Syria as a panel member on BBC’s Question Time.
After blaming former prime minister Tony Blair for the 2005 atrocity, Mr Livingstone – who was mayor at the time – told the audience: ‘They did those killings because of our invasion of Iraq.
‘They gave their lives, they said what they believed. They took Londoners’ lives in protest at our invasion of Iraq.’
Mr Livingstone, a staunch ally of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, faced a storm of criticism from fellow panel members.
Comedian and former Labour aide Matt Forde described Mr Livingstone’s remarks as ‘shameful’, while panellist Kate Andrews, from think-tank the Adam Smith Institute, accused him of ‘accepting their [the terrorists’] excuses’.
Giving their views on social media, moderate Labour MPs were appalled. John Woodcock, Labour MP for Barrow and Furness, wrote on Twitter: ‘Not politely taking this any more … No one has mandate to side with suicide bombers.’
Giving their views on social media, moderate Labour MPs were appalled. John Woodcock, Labour MP for Barrow and Furness, wrote on Twitter: ‘Not politely taking this any more … No one has mandate to side with suicide bombers.’
Gavin Shuker, Labour MP for Luton South, added: ‘The 7/7 bombers didn’t give their lives; they took the lives of others. What is happening to my party?’
Meanwhile, the Tory MP for Dudley North, Ian Austin, called Mr Livingstone a ‘total disgrace’, adding: ‘The people responsible are the terrorists. I think it’s shameful.’
Maajid Nawaz, co-founder of counter-terrorism think-tank the Quilliam Foundation, called the former mayor’s comments ‘sheer idiocy’.
Question Time viewers also condemned the politician, with one saying they felt ‘sick’ after hearing his remarks about the bombers.
Question Time viewers also condemned the politician, with one saying they felt ‘sick’ after hearing his remarks about the bombers.
Mr Livingstone’s comments contrasted with his response to the attacks in 2005. At the time, he said: ‘This was not a terrorist attack against the mighty and powerful. It was not aimed at Presidents or Prime Minister.
‘It was aimed at ordinary, working-class Londoners, black and white, Muslim and Christian, Hindu and Jew, young and old. It was an indiscriminate attempt to slaughter, irrespective of any consideration for age, for class, for religion, or whatever.
‘That isn’t an ideology, it isn’t even a perverted faith – it is just an indiscriminate attempt at mass murder and we know what the objective is.
‘They seek to divide Londoners. They seek to turn Londoners against each other.’
Outrage: Ken Livingstone's comments on Question Time last night caused widespread outrage online last night
Mr Livingstone also came under fire last week for saying a Labour MP with depression needed ‘psychiatric help’.
He had to issue an apology to Kevan Jones who criticised the decision to give him a role in Labour defence policy.
Mr Livingstone said Mr Jones was ‘obviously very depressed and disturbed’ and ‘might need some psychiatric help’.
During last night’s Question Time, Mr Livingstone put himself at odds with Mr Corbyn – who has ruled out backing military action against IS in Syria – by pledging his support for sending UK troops as part of an international force to take on the extremists.
He said ‘bombing on its own is not enough’ and insisted Britain needed to put ‘boots on the ground’ as part of a UN-backed international alliance ‘finding the terrorists’.
Bombers: Mohammad Sidique Khan, left, the 7/7 ringleader and his right-hand man Shehzad Tanweer, right, and killed 13 people between them on the Tube
Hasib Hussain, 18, the youngest of the four suicide attackers, detonated his device on a number 30 bus in Tavistock Square while Jermaine Lindsay, right with his wife Samantha Lewthwaite, killed 26 people on a Piccadilly Line train. Lewthwaite fled and is now known as the White Widow terrorist
Shouldn't the Syrian men flocking here fight to free their nation?
No comments:
Post a Comment