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| John McDonnell sorry for IRA comment | John McDonnell sorry for IRA comment |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Shadow chancellor John McDonnell has apologised for saying in 2003 that IRA members should be "honoured". | Shadow chancellor John McDonnell has apologised for saying in 2003 that IRA members should be "honoured". |
| The MP, appointed by new Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, said the comments had clearly caused offence and apologised "from the bottom of my heart". | The MP, appointed by new Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, said the comments had clearly caused offence and apologised "from the bottom of my heart". |
| He said he had been urging militants to "put their weapons away". | He said he had been urging militants to "put their weapons away". |
| Speaking on BBC Question Time, he also said he was sorry for an "appalling joke" about former Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. | Speaking on BBC Question Time, he also said he was sorry for an "appalling joke" about former Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. |
| In 2010, he said that if he could go back in time he would "assassinate Thatcher". | In 2010, he said that if he could go back in time he would "assassinate Thatcher". |
| Challenged on this remark by a member of the audience, he said: "It was an appalling joke. It's ended my career in stand-up, let's put it that way, and I apologise for it as well." | Challenged on this remark by a member of the audience, he said: "It was an appalling joke. It's ended my career in stand-up, let's put it that way, and I apologise for it as well." |
| Mr McDonnell's remarks about the "bravery" of the IRA have been highlighted since his appointment to Mr Corbyn's shadow cabinet. | Mr McDonnell's remarks about the "bravery" of the IRA have been highlighted since his appointment to Mr Corbyn's shadow cabinet. |
| Speaking on Question Time, he said at the time he made the comments it had looked like "we were going to lose the peace process". | Speaking on Question Time, he said at the time he made the comments it had looked like "we were going to lose the peace process". |
| His remarks were made at a gathering in London in 2003 to commemorate IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands. | His remarks were made at a gathering in London in 2003 to commemorate IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands. |
| He said his choice of words had been wrong, adding: "What I tried to do for both sides is to give them a way out with some form of dignity otherwise they wouldn't lay their arms down." | He said his choice of words had been wrong, adding: "What I tried to do for both sides is to give them a way out with some form of dignity otherwise they wouldn't lay their arms down." |
| He added: "And can I just say this, because this has been raised with me time and time again - I accept it was a mistake to use those words, but actually if it contributed towards saving one life, or preventing someone else being maimed it was worth doing, because we did hold on to the peace process. | He added: "And can I just say this, because this has been raised with me time and time again - I accept it was a mistake to use those words, but actually if it contributed towards saving one life, or preventing someone else being maimed it was worth doing, because we did hold on to the peace process. |
| 'Tainted' apology | |
| "There was a real risk of the republican movement splitting and some of them continuing the armed process. If I gave offence, and I clearly have, from the bottom of my heart I apologise, I apologise." | "There was a real risk of the republican movement splitting and some of them continuing the armed process. If I gave offence, and I clearly have, from the bottom of my heart I apologise, I apologise." |
| Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, Gregory Campbell, the Democratic Unionist Party MP for East Londonderry, said Mr McDonnell's apology had been "tainted" because he was "trying to justify what he said". | |
| Also on Question Time, Mr McDonnell was asked about Labour's policy plans after apparent differences between Mr Corbyn and some of his shadow cabinet. | |
| He said Labour backed a return of the 50p income tax rate, saying this would be debated within the party, and was not advocating pulling out of Nato. | He said Labour backed a return of the 50p income tax rate, saying this would be debated within the party, and was not advocating pulling out of Nato. |