Russian ambassador lavishes praise on Jeremy Corbyn over foreign policy
In unusual intervention, Russian ambassador to Britain criticises David Cameron and praises Jeremy Corbyn's foreign policy
Jeremy Corbyn's victory is a “radical breakthrough in British politics”, Russia has said as it attacked David Cameron for claiming that the new Labour leader is a “threat to national security”.
In a breach of diplomatic protocol, Russia’s ambassador in the UK hailed Mr Corbyn’s election and accused the Tories of a “flagrant” attempt to oppose a “democratic process” by criticising the result of Labour’s leadership election.
Alexander Vladimirovich Yakovenko also praised Mr Corbyn’s opposition to British membership of Nato as well as his repeated pledge to reject any attempt by the Government to endorse a military intervention abroad.
Senior Conservatives have warned that Mr Corbyn’s positions on the military and foreign policy will “weaken” Britain.
Speaking to Russian television, Mr Yakovenko said: “It is difficult to overestimate the significance of Jeremy Corbyn being elected by an overwhelming, mostly young people the new leader of the Labour party and, thus, leader of the official parliamentary opposition.
“This is nothing short of a radical breakthrough in [the] British politics of the last 30 years, which have never stepped beyond the so-called Thatcherist neo-liberal consensus of the establishment.”
Mr Corbyn has been forced to water down his opposition to Britain’s membership of Nato after criticism from members of his own shadow cabinet.
He has also reversed plans to formally pledge that under his leadership, Labour would scrap the Trident nuclear deterrent.
However, Mr Yakovenko praised Mr Corbyn’s defence policies as well as his bid to “crowd-source” the questions he asks during the weekly Parliamentary session of Prime Minister’s Questions.