Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has spoken to the BBC in the wake of the Manchester concert bombing which killed 22 and injured 59 on Monday 22 May. The response is a breath of fresh air, amid the grim reaction of the conservative UK press.
Corbyn on Manchester
The Labour leader was asked what message he would send to the families of those killed and injured, and Britain more widely. He said:
I’m terribly sorry, terribly sad for you.
There can be nothing worse than losing a child in a situation like this.
We have to put our arms around them and support them. Not just today, but in all the very difficult days to come. Because trauma like this doesn’t go in a day or two. It’s there, with them, for the rest of their lives. We have to give them all the support we possibly can. And also make sure we live in a safe environment in the future, and we live in safety together, but we do not allow our communities to be divided by this kind of appalling, atrocious act of violence.
The compassionate call for love and support was a far cry from the sad behaviour of the UK’s right-wing press today; which we are not going to rehearse here as we don’t wish to give it any more air time.
Calm amidst chaos
The first task we have as citizens is to support each other through this nightmare. To remember our values, and to hold to them unwaveringly. Parents have lost children, brothers have lost sisters. Those injured and bereaved by this bombing have had their worlds torn apart. The rest of us have a duty to hold our world together, and make it a better place for the bereaved and injured to return to from their grief. So be kind today, and be kind every day. Because the world needs more of that.
Get Involved!
– Those who are concerned about loved ones or anyone who may have been in the area at the time of the attack can call this emergency number: 0800 096 0095.
– For more coverage on the attack, see here.
Featured image via screengrab
