‘UNFIT TO GOVERN’
John McDonnell blasted for again refusing to apologise for repeating call for Cabinet minister Esther McVey to be ‘lynched’
LABOUR Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell sparked fresh uproar by refusing to apologise to Esther McVey for repeating calls for the Tory to be “lynched”.
Jeremy Corbyn’s closest ally was blasted by the Conservatives as being “not fit to govern” after he simply said he had been “misinterpreted”.
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And the self-styled Marxist insisted he had made clear in Parliament when the row erupted four years ago that he didn’t “wish to harm anybody”.
The controversy has dogged Mr McDonnell ever since the incendiary comments were picked up at a comedy night organised by left wing activists in late 2014.
To laughter, he quoted a constituent who said that instead of Labour campaigning for Ms McVey to sacked as disabilities minister, they should “lynch the b*****d”.
Ms McVey was given the job of Cabinet job of Work and Pensions Secretary in the recent Government reshuffle.
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Speaking to the BBC, Mr McDonnell insisted he wasn’t quoting the constituent approvingly.
He said: “I was saying, look how rough politics is out there, it’s ridiculous.”
The BBC’s Andrew Marr offered to play audio of the comments, which the Shadow Chancellor declined.
Asked if he wanted to say sorry for the upset caused by Ms McVey, Mr McDonnell said: “I said then I did not support what was happening. I made a statement in the House saying ‘Of course I don’t support this’.”
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Tory deputy chair James Cleverly: “John McDonnell has demonstrated yet again why Labour are not fit to govern.
“In the course of a single interview, we see Labour have no plan for Brexit, won’t say what their reckless renationalisation scheme would cost taxpayers.
“And despite promising ‘kindler, gentler politics’, the Shadow Chancellor has today repeatedly refused to apologise for sickening abuse.”
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