Jeremy Corbyn’s office insists Labour leader believes IRA were terrorists and their bombings were wrong after he praised their ‘bravery’

JEREMY Corbyn’s office has been forced to insist that the Labour leader DOES believes the IRA were terrorists and their bombings were wrong.

It comes after he praised the "bravery" of IRA leaders as he was again asked to "unequivocally condemn" the Nationalist bombs.

And it followed a declaration from Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams that Mr Corbyn was on the "right side of history" in supporting Irish Republicans.

It was the sixth time the Labour leader has refused to denounce IRA atrocities.

He was slammed for not rebuking the IRA's role in the Troubles this weekend only saying he condemned "all acts of violence ... from wherever they came".

But questioned at the launch of a £1billion culture fund in Hull, he heaped praise on the "nationalist community" and their "bravery" in reaching a peace deal.

Asked by The Sun whether he had changed his position and was willing to denounce the IRA, he said: "I think we should recognise that peace was achieved by a lot of bravery both in the unionist community as well as in the nationalist community.

"People have walked a very difficult extra mile when they were under pressure from their communities not to do so.

"Both republicans and unionists walked that extra mile and brought us the Good Friday Agreement."

Afterwards his office moved to clarify his words, saying that neither he or his Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell believe the British Army were "equivalent participants" in the conflict.

Responding to questions by PoliticsHome a spokesman said "yes" to whether the IRA’s acts of murder be condemned unequivocally.

They also said "the IRA clearly committed acts of terrorism", and that: "Jeremy has said that the he was opposed to the IRA's armed campaign."

A spokesman for Mr McDonnell said: "This is a contemptible effort to take John’s comments out of context. He was clearly describing the tragic loss of all life."

But Cabinet Minister James Brokenshire said the Labour leader and his party colleagues, Mr McDonnell and Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott, all had "extremely worrying views".

And he demanded Mr Corbyn and his top team "come clean about their true attitudes towards IRA terrorism" saying he had a "long political career of sympathy for the IRA cause".

He added: "I have listened with interest and concern to the various attempts by Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell to explain their attitudes towards IRA terrorism during the 1980s and 1990s.

"Their complete failure unequivocally to condemn terrorism, and to attempt to contextualise it, are deeply worrying coming from two people who in just over two weeks seek to be entrusted with the security of the United Kingdom."

He said the Labour leader and his top team must make clear if they believe the IRA were terrorists, if their activities should be condemned and if they regarded members of the Armed Forces and the IRA as "equivalent" participants during the Troubles.

Mr Corbyn's campaigning during the Troubles has come under renewed scrutiny since his election as Labour Party leader.

He and shadow chancellor John McDonnell have been prominent supporters of Sinn Fein.

Before the IRA ceasefire, they controversially met the party on a number of occasions in Westminster during the 1990s.

The Labour leader has said the meetings formed part of his attempt to bring about peace in Northern Ireland at that time.

But he has faced severe criticism as the IRA were responsible for 60 per cent of the deaths during the Troubles.

Security Minister Ben Wallace, who served in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, said there was no doubt in anyone's mind the IRA were terrorists who "murdered hundreds" and "ruined thousands more lives".

He said: “It is a disgrace that a man who wants to be Prime Minister cannot describe the IRA as terrorists, and to suggest otherwise is an insult to the victims and relatives whose lives were devastated by the IRA’s murderous campaign of violence.

“Anyone who has ever experienced the fear and horrendous aftermath of indiscriminate bombings and shootings will know that the IRA were ruthless terrorists.”