Jeremy Corbyn backed attack on ‘savage’ and ‘sadistic’ British troops by shamed lawyer Phil Shiner
He launched a diatribe of abuse against British Armed Forces who served in Iraq as he praised the now defunct lawyer
JEREMY CORBYN backed an attack on “savage” and “sadistic” British troops by shamed lawyer Phil Shiner, The Sun can reveal.
He launched a diatribe of abuse against British Armed Forces who served in Iraq as he praised the now defunct lawyer who was struck off after hounding thousands of our troops with false claims about their conduct in the war.
The hard-left Labour leader was last night told to condemn his “vile comments” before continuing his election campaign.
It can also be revealed that Mr Corbyn attacked vital anti-terror laws as “an extremely dangerous departure from all norms of justice” - at the same time as MPs were debating measures to stop ISIS fighters returning to Britain.
He complained at the “significant damage done to the civil liberties” of terror suspects.
Mr Corbyn - who could be commander-in-chief of Britain’s Armed Forces in a week’s time - made the incendiary remarks in an article for the socialist newspaper Morning Star in 2014.
He hailed Shiner - who was found guilty of misconduct after making more than £1.6 million pursuing unfounded torture and murder claims that cost taxpayers more than £30 million to investigate.
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Mr Corbyn, who repeatedly shared a stage with Shiner at anti-war events, wrote: "Phil Shiner of Public Interest Lawyers, who is handling a number of claims of people who were ill- treated in Iraq said, 'these cases involving the most serious human rights violations imaginable pose immensely difficult questions.
“The British mindset in Iraq appeared to be one of savage brutality and a sadistic inhumanity irrespective of whether it was women, children or old men being tortured, abused or callously subjected to lethal force'."
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said Mr Corbyn’s past comments made him unfit to be PM.
He blasted: "It is utterly disgraceful that the man who could be Prime Minister on June 9 was happy to peddle the troop-hating rubbish put about by Phil Shiner, while at the same time attacking vital anti-terror laws which help keep us safe.
"Shiner's false accusations have had a devastating effect on British soldiers and their families, causing years of needless distress as his firm hounded brave servicemen for profit.
"Jeremy Corbyn must immediately condemn these vile comments and make crystal clear he supports the members of our Armed Forces who sacrificed so much. And he must explain why he opposes giving our police and security services the tools they need to protect us.
"Jeremy Corbyn must stand up for the people who defend Britain every day, or he is simply not fit to be Prime Minister."
Last week Mr Corbyn signalled British troops would be brought home if he is elected PM as he pledged a Labour government would fundamentally change the country’s foreign policy.
He sparked outrage by blaming Britain’s war on terror for last month’s Manchester attack and even boasted about opposing all 17 terror laws passed on terrorism since becoming an MP in 1983.