In the aftermath of the horrific massacre in Nice, France – which killed at least 84 people and wounded hundreds of others – a British actress has used the tragedy to launch a tirade at Jeremy Corbyn.
Frances Barber, best known for her roles in “Silk” and “Doctor Who“, took to Twitter soon after events began unfolding late on Thursday night. Her initial responses to the devastating news were perfectly understandable, as the attack took place while people were commemorating Bastille Day. An event which is supposed to be a cause for unity and celebration.
https://twitter.com/francesbarber13/status/753706397402030080
But with this next tweet she seemed to imply that it was a deliberate attack (which, at the time, was unverified):
https://twitter.com/francesbarber13/status/753711250673168385
However, Barber then launched a tirade against Jeremy Corbyn, in what can only be described as using the horrific events for political leverage:
https://twitter.com/francesbarber13/status/753712829535059968
She later appeared to try and backtrack on her statement, tweeting this:
https://twitter.com/francesbarber13/status/753720865636945920
But her obvious disdain for Corbyn’s politics, and his supporters more widely, was evident here, as this individual, while being wholly unpleasant towards Barber, has no apparent ties to Momentum (the campaign supporting Jeremy Corbyn):
She also re-tweeted this comment, which again is unrelated to events in Nice, but appears to suggest that the “Far Left’s” attitude is somehow dismissive of such tragic occurrences:
This kind of divisive, inflammatory narrative is wholly inappropriate, and completely unnecessary. At a time when surely unity would be the appropriate response to such horrendous events, Barber chooses to take the approach of politicising it.
Corbyn himself is one of the most prominent pacifist campaigners in the UK, and he has repeatedly denounced terrorism. It is a sad state of affairs when such a prominent figure would wish to use these events to criticise the leader of the opposition.
While, at this time, there is no evidence that the attack in France was related to Islamism, senior French politicians have been quick to label the tragedy as terrorism, with French National Front leader Marine Le Pen saying on the party’s website that “the war against Islamist fundamentalism” must begin. Her statement is purely based on early reports that the individual driving the lorry was a French/Tunisian dual national.
The tragic events in Nice on Thursday show, whatever the motivation was, that there are some people in this world who place no value on the lives of innocent men, women and children. Innocent people who were out celebrating the “Liberté, égalité, fraternité” that the French hold so dear.
And it is thoroughly sad that people like Frances Barber, in her reaction to the massacre, seem to have forgotten the meaning of the final word in that tripartite motto.
Fraternity. The love and solidarity between all people.
Featured image via Wikipedia
