USEFUL IDIOTS
Liam Fox says Jeremy Corbyn left ‘undermined Britain’s security’ in Cold War
But the Trade Secretary refused several times to say that the Labour leader had 'betrayed Britain' as Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has insisted
JEREMY CORBYN and the Labour left were “useful idiots” who undermined national security in the Cold War, a Cabinet Minster claimed yesterday.
Trade Secretary Liam Fox said there was no need for anyone to apologise for saying the Labour leader had “betrayed” Britain in the early 1980s.
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It came as the bitter war over Mr Corbyn’s links to Soviet era spies erupted.
Tory vice chair Ben Bradley issued a public apology for claiming the Labour leader “sold secrets” to communist spies – and agreed to pay money to a charity of Mr Corbyn’s choice.
Challenged yesterday Liam Fox said it was “unacceptable to say untruths”.
But he said it was clear Labour were “extremely unhelpful” to the country in the Cold War.
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He told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show: “I don’t think that I would use the word betray but I certainly think that the Labour Left were the Soviet Union’s useful idiots during that period.
“I think in the broader sense he was undermining the security of our country by siding with the Soviet Union in that argument and I think that was very damaging to the country.
“Luckily, it was our side of the argument, not Jeremy Corbyn’s, that won the day.”
Commons leader Andrew Leadsom added: “He’s a very good man [Ben Bradley] and he’s right to be concerned about some of the friends Jeremy Corbyn keeps.
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“[Ben’s] tweet was making specific accusations which weren’t correct, so of course it’s always right to retract but I think the general point, that it is concerning that somebody who would like to lead this country seems to have some very odd friends who would not be seen to be friends of this country.”
The Sun two weeks ago revealed Jan Sarkocy, a spy for the Czechoslovak intelligence agency, met Mr Corbyn at the height of the Cold War.
Mr Corbyn denies passing sensitive information. Sir Richard Dearlove, a former head of MI6 at the weekend said Mr Corbyn had “questions to answer” over the contact and couldn’t simply “laugh off” the accusations.
A Labour spokesman last night said: “Liam Fox should focus on his job and not give credence to claims that everybody knows are entirely false and ridiculous.”
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