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Labour plays down Jeremy Corbyn's failure to attend privy council Labour plays down Jeremy Corbyn's failure to attend privy council
(35 minutes later)
Labour has played down Jeremy Corbyn’s failure to attend his first privy council meeting, where he would have to kneel before the Queen, pointing out it took David Cameron several months to go to one.Labour has played down Jeremy Corbyn’s failure to attend his first privy council meeting, where he would have to kneel before the Queen, pointing out it took David Cameron several months to go to one.
The Labour leader was accused by Tory MPs of snubbing the Queen, after it emerged he will not be sworn in on Thursday at the first privy council meeting since he became Labour leader. Corbyn was accused by Tory MPs of snubbing the Queen, after it emerged he will not be sworn in on Thursday at the first privy council meeting since he became Labour leader.
Related: What is the privy council?Related: What is the privy council?
He has previously indicated he would have to think about whether to attend the induction ceremony, at which new members have to kneel, kiss the monarch’s hand and swear to defend her against “all foreign princes, persons, prelates, states or potentates”.He has previously indicated he would have to think about whether to attend the induction ceremony, at which new members have to kneel, kiss the monarch’s hand and swear to defend her against “all foreign princes, persons, prelates, states or potentates”.
However, a source close to the leader stressed Corbyn was merely spending a few days doing purely private engagements, and highlighted the fact that Cameron missed two privy council meetings after he became Conservative leader in 2005. However, a source close to the leader stressed Corbyn was merely spending a few days doing purely private engagements, and highlighted the fact that Cameron missed two privy council meetings after becoming Conservative leader in 2005.
The source said Corbyn is expected to be sworn in at some point, rather than avoiding the ceremony by being appointed through an order in council.The source said Corbyn is expected to be sworn in at some point, rather than avoiding the ceremony by being appointed through an order in council.
Jonathan Ashworth, the shadow minister without portfolio, later confirmed to the BBC’s Daily Politics that Corbyn would indeed attend a ceremony to be sworn in by the Queen. Jonathan Ashworth, the shadow minister without portfolio, later confirmed to the BBC’s Daily Politics that Corbyn would attend a ceremony to be sworn in by the Queen.
“He is going to go and see the Queen and become a privy counsellor. I believe he had a private appointment today that he could not get out of. But he is going to go and see the Queen and become a privy counsellor,” he said.“He is going to go and see the Queen and become a privy counsellor. I believe he had a private appointment today that he could not get out of. But he is going to go and see the Queen and become a privy counsellor,” he said.
“According to the papers, David Cameron took three months [to get sworn in]. So, look, he is going to do it. And I’m sure he will do it in an appropriate and respectful way. And he will get on with it soon.”“According to the papers, David Cameron took three months [to get sworn in]. So, look, he is going to do it. And I’m sure he will do it in an appropriate and respectful way. And he will get on with it soon.”
LabourList reported that Corbyn was taking a short holiday after the long summer of the leadership election and Labour party conference, but a spokesman for the leader would not confirm that.LabourList reported that Corbyn was taking a short holiday after the long summer of the leadership election and Labour party conference, but a spokesman for the leader would not confirm that.
The spokesman said: “Although Jeremy was unavailable for today’s meeting, he has confirmed he will be joining the privy council. As the prime minister and others did, it is far from unusual to miss the first meeting due to other commitments.”The spokesman said: “Although Jeremy was unavailable for today’s meeting, he has confirmed he will be joining the privy council. As the prime minister and others did, it is far from unusual to miss the first meeting due to other commitments.”
It is understood Angus Robertson, the leader of the SNP at Westminster and member of the intelligence and security committee, will be sworn in at the meeting, while Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrat leader, has not yet been invited to join.It is understood Angus Robertson, the leader of the SNP at Westminster and member of the intelligence and security committee, will be sworn in at the meeting, while Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrat leader, has not yet been invited to join.
The issue of Corbyn’s membership of the privy council has been much discussed because he is a lifelong republican, who would ultimately like to see the monarchy abolished.The issue of Corbyn’s membership of the privy council has been much discussed because he is a lifelong republican, who would ultimately like to see the monarchy abolished.
During the leadership campaign, Corbyn said replacing the monarchy was not a priority and he later confirmed that he would become a member of the privy council in order to receive security briefings as the leader of the opposition.During the leadership campaign, Corbyn said replacing the monarchy was not a priority and he later confirmed that he would become a member of the privy council in order to receive security briefings as the leader of the opposition.
The privy council is a largely ceremonial body made up of 600 senior figures including politicians, which tends not to transact any serious business. Not many of the large body of members turn up to meetings which happen roughly on a monthly basis. The privy council is a largely ceremonial body made up of 600 senior figures including politicians, which tends not to transact any serious business. Not many of its members turn up to meetings which happen roughly each month.
Other leftwing Labour leaders including Michael Foot and Neil Kinnock became privy counsellors so entitling them to higher class security information and briefings.Other leftwing Labour leaders including Michael Foot and Neil Kinnock became privy counsellors so entitling them to higher class security information and briefings.
Since becoming leader, Corbyn has been accused by Tory MPs of lacking patriotism for failing to sing the national anthem at the Battle of Britain memorial service. The Labour leader has since confirmed he will sing it in future, saying he was merely standing in respectful silence. Since becoming leader, Corbyn has been accused by Tory MPs of lacking patriotism for failing to sing the national anthem at the battle of Britain memorial service. The Labour leader has since confirmed he will sing it in future, saying he was merely standing in respectful silence.
Cameron used his Tory party conference speech to launch a strong attack on Corbyn, claiming the Labour leader was a terrorist sympathiser, an attack prompted by conversations Cameron held in America at the United Nations last week, where he said was struck by foreign leaders’ disbelief at the Labour leader’s reported view. Cameron used his Tory party conference speech to launch a strong attack on Corbyn, claiming the Labour leader was a terrorist sympathiser, an attack prompted by conversations Cameron held in America at the United Nations last week, where he said was struck by foreign leaders’ disbelief at Corbyn’s reported view.