UK military interventions fuelled terrorism, extremism: Corbyn

LONDON: Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has said that the threat of terrorism and extremism has been "fuelled" by UK’s foreign policy which supports foreign invasions and which led to Iraq war under his own party’s government then headed by Tony Blair.

Corbyn was speaking in York in the wake of terrorist attack on London Bridge by the British born convict Usman Khan.

Corbyn accused Boris Johnson of being "the world's leading sycophant" towards Donald Trump and said it is time for Britain to stop bring tied to the US President's coattails.

Britain’s repeated military interventions have “exacerbated rather than resolved” the problem of terrorism, Jeremy Corbyn warned.

The Labour leader said that the so-called “war on terror has manifestly failed”, adding that the world is “living with the consequences” of the botched invasion of Iraq, which he opposed. He said that Britain risks being “tied to Donald Trump’s coattails” and US foreign policy under Boris Johnson.

Corbyn praised the “extraordinary bravery” of the public in confronting the attacker. He said that the police were right to use lethal force, with lives at stake and the attacker wearing a fake suicide vest.

He said that while responsibility for acts of terror lies with “the terrorists, their funders and recruiters”, UK leaders “have made the wrong calls on our security”. He said, “The threat of terrorism cannot and should not be reduced to questions of foreign policy alone. But, too often the actions of successive governments have fuelled, not reduced that threat.

“Sixteen years ago, I warned against the invasion and occupation of Iraq. I said it would set off a spiral of conflict, hate, misery and desperation that will fuel the wars, the conflict, the terrorism and the misery of future generations. It did, and we are still living with the consequences today.

“The war on terror has manifestly failed. Britain’s repeated military interventions in North Africa, the Middle East and South Asia have exacerbated, rather than resolved the problems.” Corbyn criticised cuts and warned that real security cannot be done “on the cheap”.

Corbyn warned against joining more wars. He said, "Now we risk being dragged into a further conflict with Iran on the side of a Saudi regime which is an enemy of human rights everywhere, prolonging a desperate humanitarian crisis in Yemen, interfering in its neighbours’ affairs and murdering journalists. This policy has not made us one bit safer."