Outrage as it’s revealed Jeremy Corbyn will claim Britain’s war on terror is to blame for Manchester terror attack
JEREMY Corbyn will spark outrage by blaming Britain’s war on terror for the Manchester Arena massacre.
In an incendiary speech, the Labour leader will draw a connection between the UK’s interventions in Iraq, Libya and Syria and “terrorism here at home”.
And speaking in London, he will say the West needs an effective response to ISIS that “fights rather than fuels terrorism”.
He will vow that a Labour government would change the UK’s approach – signalling British troops would be brought back home.
“We must be brave enough to admit the ‘war on terror’ is simply not working,” he will say.
“We need a smarter way to reduce the threat from countries that nurture terrorists and generate terrorism.”
The speech marks the formal relaunch of Labour’s election campaign after a three-day truce following the horrific Manchester attacks.
Mr Corbyn will also savage Theresa May for cutting police numbers.
Incensed Tory and Labour candidates branded the speech “appalling” and “offensive”.
One senior Tory said: “This speech is offensive, insulting to those who have sacrificed their lives abroad defending us at home and totally out of touch with the mood of the country.”
The attack came as it emerged Mr Corbyn in 2014 said ISIS was a “product of our past policies” and that Brits shouldn’t make “value judgements” about young men attracted to the murderous fanatics.
Two years ago he compared the actions of ISIS to the “appalling” actions of the Americans in Fallujah during the Iraq War.
A Labour spokesman insisted Jeremy Corbyn was not trying to draw a direct link between foreign interventions and the Manchester attack.
In comments released ahead of the speech, Mr Corbyn said his call for a different foreign policy “in no way reduces the guilt of those who attack our children”.
He adds: “Those terrorists will forever be reviled and held to account for their actions.”
But an ex-Labour frontbencher told the Sun: “It’s clear he’s making a link between the efforts of our troops and Manchester.
“This weak and warped world view only gives comfort to Britain’s enemies. Patriotic Labour MPs will be appalled .”
Another Labour candidate said: “What’s he want to do? Hug a terrorist?
“The world is a dangerous place. The idea you can hide under the duvet and these threats go away is worse than naïve.”
Mr Corbyn was a fierce opponent of the Iraq war, David Cameron’s intervention in Libya and he voted against airstrikes against ISIS in Syria.
Earlier this month he revealed plans to hire a Minister for Peace if elected PM and said Britain had only fought two just troop deployments since 1945 - east Timor and the Med refugee crisis.
He will vow that Britain should “never surrender” to terrorists.
But referring to foreign policy in his speech he vows a Labour government “will change what we do abroad”.
He will say: “Many experts, including professionals in our intelligence and security services, have pointed to the connections between wars our government has supported or fought in other countries and terrorism here at home.
“That assessment in no way reduces the guilt of those who attack our children.
“Those terrorists will forever be reviled and held to account for their actions.
“But an informed understanding of the causes of terrorism is an essential part of an effective response that will protect the security of our people that fights rather than fuels terrorism.
“We must be brave enough to admit the ‘war on terror’ is simply not working.
“We need a smarter way to reduce the threat from countries that nurture terrorists and generate terrorism.”
Challenged what his “smarter” approach to terrorism would be, a spokesman would only say Labour plans to reverse Theresa May’s “austerity” cuts to the police and emergency services.
Mr Corbyn will add: “If the security services need more resources to keep track of those who wish to murder and maim then they should get them.”
Former Met commissioner Ian Blair urged the Prime Minister to strengthen the Government’s counter terror powers – saying current orders were too “weak”.
The peer said the T-Pim regime – Terror Prevention and Investigation Measures – had to be reviewed as part of a radical overhaul of security in wake of the Manchester attack.
Currently just seven extremists are subject to T-Pims which put legal restrictions on the activities of terror suspects.
They replaced far tougher Control Orders at the request of the Lib Dems in the Coalition.
David Blunkett, who oversaw the control orders when he was Labour’s Home Secretary, also said a review of police powers had to be carried out after the Election.
Former Lib Dem leader Paddy Ashdown said: “Some political leaders have sought to politicise the events of the week, but now is not the time, and this is not the event, to seek political advantage.
“The families of victims in Manchester have a right to expect political parties to respond with restraint and sensitivity to these unpardonable crimes.
“There will be a moment when we will want to look at the policy implications of what has happened, but that should not be in the shadow of these terrible events when the nation should stand together.”