Jeremy Corbyn’s opponents are clearly getting worried. And two right-wingers who had already left Labour a long time ago (for cushy government jobs) have now urged voters to back Boris Johnson’s Conservatives in the coming election. The Canary has already written about Ian Austin, but here’s all you really need to know about the other Corbyn critic – John Woodcock.
A friend to arms dealers and war criminals
Woodcock quit Labour last year, having been highly critical of Corbyn. He’d been sitting as an independent since having the Labour whip withdrawn in April 2018 pending investigation of an allegation of sexual harassment. He denies the allegation.
Woodcock’s actions inside and outside parliament, however, make his opposition to Corbyn’s pro-peace leadership no surprise. Because he has previously:
- Been linked to arms giant BAE Systems.
- Voted in favour of military interventions abroad.
- Opposed holding the Saudi Arabian dictatorship to account for alleged war crimes in Yemen.
- Faced criticism for echoing the propaganda of alleged war criminal Recep Tayyip Erdoğan – the president of Turkey.
Tribune editor Ronan Burtenshaw has even called Woodcock a “propagandist” and “hack for the Erdogan regime”:
After Gezi, Erdogan rejected the idea there was widespread discontent with his regime, instead insisting that the protests were incited by 'The Mastermind.' Pro-government TV Haber produced a documentary clarifying what this meant: a conspiracy dating back 3,500 years to Moses.
— Ronan Burtenshaw (@ronanburtenshaw) November 7, 2019
The idea that a propagandist for the AKP like John Woodcock is a principled opponent of antisemitism is laughable – and could only be entertained by a media completely ignorant or completely cynical. Take your pick.
— Ronan Burtenshaw (@ronanburtenshaw) November 7, 2019
Already working for the Tories, so not really a surprise
Woodcock announced on 4 November that he wouldn’t stand for re-election as an MP. And just a day later, disgraced Conservative Party home secretary (and proud Thatcherite) Priti Patel appointed him “special envoy for countering violent extremism”. So he’s now working for the Tories – who have supported allies like Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Israel through thick and thin (i.e. in spite of the extreme terror they wage on innocent civilians in Yemen, Kurdistan, and Palestine).
Unsurprisingly, Woodcock has since decided to ‘plead’ with Labour supporters to vote Tory, saying: “The choice to keep Jeremy Corbyn away from Downing Street, to stop him getting his hands on the levers of national security and defence has to be to vote Conservative in this election and that’s what I’ll be doing as well.”
Fellow Corbyn critic Ian Austin, meanwhile, also works for the Conservative government – as trade envoy to Israel. And responding to the Austin’s support for the Tories, shadow chancellor John McDonnell said:
What else do you expect him to do in an election campaign? Where you’re employed by the Tories, you speak on behalf of the Tories.
John McDonnell, on former Labour MP Ian Austin telling people to back Johnson in the #GE2019
'he's now employed by the Tories – what else do you expect him to do'
Ian Austin is just a Tory — and pretty soon they'll be history. Simples.pic.twitter.com/iPCYnOoDiD
— JD Black🥀 (@_JD_Black) November 7, 2019
Others also pointed this out:
Breaking News for @SkyNews ex Labour MP’s Ian Austin & John Woodcock BOTH now work for the Conservative Party, they’re not going to sing the praises of Jeremy Corbyn now are they.. they work for the Tories..
Shame on Sky News for not pointing this out!— Hilary Smith Socialist ex Labour party member (@HilarySmith8) November 7, 2019
A different kind of foreign policy
One big reason why Labour right-wingers have jumped ship and are campaigning against Jeremy Corbyn’s party is foreign policy. Because Corbyn’s leadership marks a massive break from the party that launched the disastrous, illegal invasion of Iraq in 2003. Corbyn has consistently criticised brutal occupations – from Palestine to Kurdistan and from Kashmir to West Papua. He has also firmly condemned the crimes of vicious UK-backed regimes, fought persistently against fascism, protested against apartheid, and won numerous peace prizes.
For all the above and more, warhawks like Woodcock can’t stand Corbyn. No wonder they want people to vote Tory.
Featured image via Chatham House and OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, with additional content via Press Association
