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Jeremy Corbyn faces calls to cancel appearance at Stop the War fundraising dinner following Syria air strikes vote Jeremy Corbyn faces calls to cancel appearance at Stop the War fundraising dinner following Syria air strikes vote
(1 day later)
Jeremy Corbyn is facing calls from senior MPs to cancel an appearance at a fundraising dinner hosted by the Stop the War Coalition this week, as internal strife continued to dog the Labour party in the wake of last week’s airstrikes vote.Jeremy Corbyn is facing calls from senior MPs to cancel an appearance at a fundraising dinner hosted by the Stop the War Coalition this week, as internal strife continued to dog the Labour party in the wake of last week’s airstrikes vote.
Tristram Hunt, the former Shadow Education Secretary said that Mr Corbyn should think again about attending the event, branding Stop the War a “a really disreputable organisation”.Tristram Hunt, the former Shadow Education Secretary said that Mr Corbyn should think again about attending the event, branding Stop the War a “a really disreputable organisation”.
It came as the leader’s office dismissed reports of an imminent Shadow Cabinet reshuffle as “speculation”.It came as the leader’s office dismissed reports of an imminent Shadow Cabinet reshuffle as “speculation”.
Some Shadow Cabinet members are understood to be preparing for a “revenge reshuffle” in the wake of the free vote on Syria, which saw 66 Labour MPs and 11 members of the Shadow Cabinet break with their leader’s position and back airstrikes. Some Shadow Cabinet members are understood to be preparing for a “revenge reshuffle” in the wake of the free vote on Syria, which saw 66 Labour MPs and 11 members of the Shadow Cabinet break with their leader’s position and back airstrikes. 
Shadow Defence Secretary Maria Eagle and chief whip Rosie Winterton were rumoured to be among those whose jobs are under threat. However, Lisa Nandy, the Shadow Environment Secretary and a leading figure on the left of the party said that a reshuffle would do nothing to stabilise the party.Shadow Defence Secretary Maria Eagle and chief whip Rosie Winterton were rumoured to be among those whose jobs are under threat. However, Lisa Nandy, the Shadow Environment Secretary and a leading figure on the left of the party said that a reshuffle would do nothing to stabilise the party.
She told BBC Radio 5’s Pienaar’s Politics that the Shadow Cabinet should continue to represent “every different strand of opinion” held by Labour MPs.She told BBC Radio 5’s Pienaar’s Politics that the Shadow Cabinet should continue to represent “every different strand of opinion” held by Labour MPs.
True. In a speech made to the Stop the War Coalition in 2009, Mr Corbyn called representatives from both groups “friends” after inviting them to Parliament. He later told Channel 4 he wanted both groups, who have factions designated as international terror organisations, to be “part of the debate” for the Middle East peace process. “I use (the word ‘friends’) in a collective way, saying our friends are prepared to talk,” he added. “Does it mean I agree with Hamas and what it does? No. Does it mean I agree with Hezbollah and what they do? No.”
Reuters
Partly false. David Cameron used this as a line of attack at the Conservative Party conference but appears to have left out all context from Mr Corbyn’s original remarks. In an 2011 interview on Iranian television, the then-backbencher said the fact the al-Qaeda leader was not put on trial was the tragedy, continuing: “The World Trade Center was a tragedy, the attack on Afghanistan was a tragedy, the war in Iraq was a tragedy.”
False. A Daily Express exposé revealed that the Labour leader’s ancestor, James Sargent, was the “despotic” master of a Victorian workhouse. Addressing the report at the Labour conference, Mr Corbyn said he had never heard of him before, adding: “I want to take this opportunity to apologise for not doing the decent thing and going back in time and having a chat with him about his appalling behaviour.”
This one is true. On 21 May 2004, Mr Corbyn raised an early day motion entitled “pigeon bombs”, proposing that the House register being “appalled but barely surprised” that MI5 reportedly proposed to load pigeons with explosives as a weapon. The motion continued: “The House… believes that humans represent the most obscene, perverted, cruel, uncivilised and lethal species ever to inhabit the planet and looks forward to the day when the inevitable asteroid slams into the earth and wipes them out thus giving nature the opportunity to start again.” It was not carried.
False. A report in The Times referred to Mr Corbyn, known for his cycling, riding a “Chairman Mao-style bicycle” earlier this year. “Less thorough journalists might have referred to it as just a bicycle, but no, so we have to conclude that whenever we see somebody on a bicycle from now on, there goes another supporter of Chairman Mao,” he later joked.
False so far. The Sun report in December was allegedly based on a “rumour” passed to the paper by a Daily Express columnist who has written pieces critical of the Labour leader in the past. The minister did not materialise in his shadow cabinet.
False. Another gem from The Sun took comments made at a Hiroshima remembrance parade in August 2012 where Mr Corbyn supported Costa Rica’s move to abolish it armed forces. “Wouldn’t it be wonderful if every politician around the world…abolished the army and took pride in the fact that they don’t have an army,” he added. The caveat that “every politician” must take the step suggests Mr Corbyn does not support UK disarmament just yet.
False. The Guido Fawkes blog claimed that the Labour leader took sandwiches meant for veterans at at Battle of Britain memorial service in September but a photo later emerged showing him being handed one by Costa volunteers, who later confirmed they were given to all guests.
True. After much speculation about Mr Corbyn’s republican views and willingness to bow to the monarch, his office confirmed that he did not attend the official induction to the privy council because of a prior engagement, but did not rule out joining the body.
Partly true. The Labour leader was filmed standing in silence as God Save the Queen was sung at a Battle of Britain remembrance service but will reportedly sing it in future. Mr Corbyn was elusive on the issue in an interview, saying he would show memorials “respect in the proper way”, but sources said he would sing the anthem at future occasions.
True. The group lists its purpose as the following: “To increase awareness of issues surrounding the dairy industry and focus on economic issues affecting the dairy industry and producers.”
However, a new fault-line could open up this week as Mr Corbyn’s office insisted he would be keeping his plans to attend this Friday’s Stop the War event. Mr Corbyn previously served as the organisation’s chair before becoming Labour leader.However, a new fault-line could open up this week as Mr Corbyn’s office insisted he would be keeping his plans to attend this Friday’s Stop the War event. Mr Corbyn previously served as the organisation’s chair before becoming Labour leader.
Many pro-airstrike MPs suspect Stop the War of a role in orchestrating abuse and threats made to them online and via email in the run-up and after the Syria vote.Many pro-airstrike MPs suspect Stop the War of a role in orchestrating abuse and threats made to them online and via email in the run-up and after the Syria vote.
Mr Hunt, speaking on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show, also criticised the organisation for a protest outside Labour’s London headquarters on Tuesday last week, which he said disrupted party activists who were canvassing voters ahead of the Oldham by-election.  He also attacked the group for an article which appeared on its website the day after the Paris terror attacks which claimed France had “reaped the whirlwind” of Western support for extremists in the Middle East.Mr Hunt, speaking on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show, also criticised the organisation for a protest outside Labour’s London headquarters on Tuesday last week, which he said disrupted party activists who were canvassing voters ahead of the Oldham by-election.  He also attacked the group for an article which appeared on its website the day after the Paris terror attacks which claimed France had “reaped the whirlwind” of Western support for extremists in the Middle East.
They picketed Labour party headquarters when we were trying to run a phone bank for the Oldham by-election. They were preventing the election of a labour member of parliament,” Mr Hunt said. “[There is also] their comments about how the French almost had it coming to them. They are a really disreputable organisation and I hope Jeremy would step back and not go to their fundraiser.They picketed Labour party headquarters when we were trying to run a phone bank for the Oldham by-election. They were preventing the election of a labour member of parliament,” Mr Hunt said. “[There is also] their comments about how the French almost had it coming to them. They are a really disreputable organisation and I hope Jeremy would step back and not go to their fundraiser.
Stephen Doughty, a member of Hilary Benn’s shadow foreign affairs team, also urged Mr Corbyn not to attend the event.Stephen Doughty, a member of Hilary Benn’s shadow foreign affairs team, also urged Mr Corbyn not to attend the event.
But Lindsey German, Stop the War’s convenor, hit back, saying that Stop the War had not condoned any bullying or threats, adding that the protest at Labour HQ need not have led to the cancellation of any work inside the building.But Lindsey German, Stop the War’s convenor, hit back, saying that Stop the War had not condoned any bullying or threats, adding that the protest at Labour HQ need not have led to the cancellation of any work inside the building.
“Some of us went and knocked on the door to hand in a petition, the woman who received the letter was perfectly pleasant, we were perfectly pleasant, then the demonstration moved on. If anything was cancelled, it didn’t need to be cancelled,” she said.  “Some of us went and knocked on the door to hand in a petition, the woman who received the letter was perfectly pleasant, we were perfectly pleasant, then the demonstration moved on. If anything was cancelled, it didn’t need to be cancelled,” she said.  
“I guess Tristram Hunt is making these criticisms to confuse the issue and try to minimise what is clearly a growing anti-war opinion in this country,” she said, pointing out that the majority of the Shadow Cabinet and Labour MPs voted against airstrikes.“I guess Tristram Hunt is making these criticisms to confuse the issue and try to minimise what is clearly a growing anti-war opinion in this country,” she said, pointing out that the majority of the Shadow Cabinet and Labour MPs voted against airstrikes.
She said she “very much” regretted that the “reap the whirlwind” had been posted to the website, adding that it did not reflect Stop the War’s official position, and indicating that steps would be taken to take greater control of content is posted on the organisation’s website.She said she “very much” regretted that the “reap the whirlwind” had been posted to the website, adding that it did not reflect Stop the War’s official position, and indicating that steps would be taken to take greater control of content is posted on the organisation’s website.
Meanwhile, Tony Blair made a veiled criticism of Mr Corbyn’s stance on airstrikes. In an interview with the Sunday Times, The former Prime Minister said there was an “uneasy parallel with the 1930s”, comparing those who think Britain should step back from intervening against Isis to appeasers of fascism. Meanwhile, Tony Blair made a veiled criticism of Mr Corbyn’s stance on airstrikes. In an interview with the Sunday Times, The former Prime Minister said there was an “uneasy parallel with the 1930s”, comparing those who think Britain should step back from intervening against Isis to appeasers of fascism. 
Mr Corbyn’s spokesman issued a statement firmly defending the Labour leader’s backing for Stop the War.Mr Corbyn’s spokesman issued a statement firmly defending the Labour leader’s backing for Stop the War.
“The anti-war movement has been a vital democratic campaign, which organised the biggest demonstrations in British history and has repeatedly called it right over 14 years of disastrous wars in the wider Middle East,” the spokesman said. “Jeremy Corbyn rejects any form of abuse in politics from any quarter. But he will not accept attempts to portray campaigning, lobbying and protest as somehow beyond the pale. In fact it’s at the heart of democracy”.“The anti-war movement has been a vital democratic campaign, which organised the biggest demonstrations in British history and has repeatedly called it right over 14 years of disastrous wars in the wider Middle East,” the spokesman said. “Jeremy Corbyn rejects any form of abuse in politics from any quarter. But he will not accept attempts to portray campaigning, lobbying and protest as somehow beyond the pale. In fact it’s at the heart of democracy”.