This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-34285308

The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 6 Version 7
John McDonnell sorry for IRA comment John McDonnell sorry for IRA comment
(35 minutes 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". Speaking on BBC Question Time, he said he had been trying to give both sides of the conflict a way to lay down arms with "some form of dignity".
Speaking on BBC Question Time, he also said he was sorry for an "appalling joke" about former Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Unionist politicians welcomed the apology but questioned his motives.
Mr McDonnell 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.
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.
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". Mr McDonnell told the meeting: "It's about time we started honouring those people involved in the armed struggle.
"It was the bombs and bullets and sacrifice made by the likes of Bobby Sands that brought Britain to the negotiating table."
Speaking on Question Time on Thursday, he said at the time he made the comments it had looked like "we were going to lose the peace process".
AnalysisAnalysis
By Chris Mason, BBC political correspondentBy Chris Mason, BBC political correspondent
This was John McDonnell attempting to deal with the most toxic of his comments dredged from a back catalogue of remarks dismissed as insignificant when they were first uttered, but now being held up to scrutiny.This was John McDonnell attempting to deal with the most toxic of his comments dredged from a back catalogue of remarks dismissed as insignificant when they were first uttered, but now being held up to scrutiny.
It illustrates the central challenge for the new Labour leadership.It illustrates the central challenge for the new Labour leadership.
Elected because they offered what was seen as the unspun authenticity of those with track records unsullied by the compromises of office, they are now burdened for the first time with that label "figurehead" - and with it the duty to represent the sensibilities and sensitivities of the whole Labour movement.Elected because they offered what was seen as the unspun authenticity of those with track records unsullied by the compromises of office, they are now burdened for the first time with that label "figurehead" - and with it the duty to represent the sensibilities and sensitivities of the whole Labour movement.
And, they hope, in time, the country too.And, they hope, in time, the country too.
Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell have spent the week wobbling along a tightrope, pointing upwards towards what they see as the virtues of novelty, honesty and freshness.Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell have spent the week wobbling along a tightrope, pointing upwards towards what they see as the virtues of novelty, honesty and freshness.
But a battalion of Labour MPs behind them are pointing in the other direction, down; fearful their party is perilously close to tumbling into a cavern of shambolic misery and irrelevance.But a battalion of Labour MPs behind them are pointing in the other direction, down; fearful their party is perilously close to tumbling into a cavern of shambolic misery and irrelevance.
'Worth doing'
Although the Good Friday Agreement, aimed at bringing an end to the Troubles, came into force in 1998, devolved government in Northern Ireland proved difficult to implement because of disagreements over a range of issues.Although the Good Friday Agreement, aimed at bringing an end to the Troubles, came into force in 1998, devolved government in Northern Ireland proved difficult to implement because of disagreements over a range of issues.
Direct rule from Westminster was reintroduced in October 2002, with the Stormont Assembly not returning for nearly five years.Direct rule from Westminster was reintroduced in October 2002, with the Stormont Assembly not returning for nearly five years.
The MP for Hayes and Harlington said his choice of words in 2003 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."The MP for Hayes and Harlington said his choice of words in 2003 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". 'Dangerous territory'
The DUP MP for North Antrim, Ian Paisley Jr, said he understood that shadow cabinet members would have demanded Mr McDonnell's sacking had he not apologised. Colin Parry, whose 12-year-old son Tim was killed by an IRA bomb in Warrington in 1993, said the apology was welcome "on the face of it", but questioned the MPs motivation for making it.
"He was under so much pressure over the last 48 hours from senior colleagues... that if he didn't do this, he was out on his ear, and so he has had to recognise that discretion is the better part of valour," said Mr Paisley. "How sincere it is or how much it is based on the fact that his political profile has changed, I don't know," he said.
He said "some of the most senior people in the Labour party" told him the comments "did not reflect them, hurt and burned into the souls of many people in Labour constituencies". "Far from consolidating the peace process by saying what he did, you could argue that he was giving succour to the view the more you fight, the more you fight on, the better the deal you get."
Democratic Unionist Party MP Jeffrey Donaldson told the Today programme he accepted the apology, but felt Mr McDonnell had still sought to "excuse what he said and explain it away".
"I don't buy the notion that what he said was designed to encourage republicans to stick with the peace process," he said.
"Once you suggest there is some justification [for the use of violence] in the name of a political cause when you have a democratic avenue that you can take, you're in very dangerous territory."
Fellow DUP MP Ian Paisley Jr said he understood that shadow cabinet members would have demanded Mr McDonnell's sacking had he not apologised.
50p tax rate50p tax rate
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.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.
Mr Corbyn was not advocating pulling out of Nato, said Mr McDonnell.Mr Corbyn was not advocating pulling out of Nato, said Mr McDonnell.
He also confirmed Labour backed a return of the 50p income tax rate.He also confirmed Labour backed a return of the 50p income tax rate.
"On income tax, it's an issue for us, the Tories reduced it from 50p to 45p and we'd just like to go back to 50p. We think that's reasonable but that will be a debate within the Labour Party and we will come back with our concrete proposals on that," he said."On income tax, it's an issue for us, the Tories reduced it from 50p to 45p and we'd just like to go back to 50p. We think that's reasonable but that will be a debate within the Labour Party and we will come back with our concrete proposals on that," he said.
Mr McDonnell added the party also wanted to clamp down on companies that were using legal loopholes to avoid paying corporation tax.Mr McDonnell added the party also wanted to clamp down on companies that were using legal loopholes to avoid paying corporation tax.