The shadow chancellor John McDonnell has apologised for saying that IRA members should be “honoured”.
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But one might have imagined Corbyn would have used the opportunity to send one of the really big power players of the new shadow cabinet – his transport spokeswoman Lilian Greenwood, say, or Nia Griffith, who has the Wales portfolio – rather than his lowly shadow chancellor.
But speaking on BBC’s Question Time, Mr McDonnell said Mr Corbyn’s election as Labour leader will herald a “new politics” and “a kinder form of politics, where you respect the other person’s point of view”.
He was the centre of controversy again in 2010, when he said he wished he could go back in time and “assassinate Thatcher”.
Mr McDonnell also said he had spoken to his party leader about the row following Mr Corbyn’s decision not to sing the national anthem at a Battle of Britain memorial service. “It’s ended my career in stand-up, let’s put it that way, and I apologise for it as well”.
In 2003, he declared: ‘It’s about time we started honouring those people involved in the armed struggle.
Earlier this week, Mr McDonnell defended the sentiment behind his words, telling Channel Four News that had made the comments as an attempt to “sell the peace process” because he was anxious that “if elements of the IRA thought they were going to be humiliated and defeated there’d be a major split”.
“If I gave offence, and I clearly have, from the bottom of my heart I apologise, I apologise”, he said.
He also confirmed Labour backed a return of the 50p income tax rate. “Will the Prime Minister join with all of us on all sides of this house in denouncing that sentiment and standing with us on behalf of the innocent victims for the bravery of our armed forces who stood against the terrorists?”
But former SNP leader Alex Salmond told the programme: “I think Jeremy Corbyn’s key problem is not what’s in front of him or the press barrage but what’s behind him in terms of divisions in the Labour party”. McDonnell said: “I spoke to Jeremy afterwards and I said: “Why didn’t you sing”?”
“He was under so much pressure over the last 48 hours from senior colleagues… that if he didn’t do this, he was out on his ear, and so he has had to recognise that discretion is the better part of valour”, said Mr Paisley.
“I had to use the language that republicans understood so we could secure the path to peace”.
“There were risks, but it was worth taking because now people are not dying on the streets of Northern Ireland”.
However, the DUP have attacked Mr McDonnell over the way in which he has phrased his apology, claiming that it was done more for political considerations than actual regret.
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“He has been dragged by entirely justified public outrage to address his obnoxious remarks only once they were brought to general attention”.
