Divided nation: Reaction to video of soldiers shooting Corbyn poster shows danger to democracy
This is a media-led scandal; if the Tory-dominated mass media had not spent the last four years demonising Jeremy Corbyn, members of our armed forces would not have used an image of him as target practice.
And supporters of the armed forces would not have voiced their own hatred of Mr Corbyn. Consider the comments of Trevor Coult, founder of ‘For Our Veterans’ – and the organisation’s own comments in support of him:
Hmmm 🤔 pic.twitter.com/3zZCgyE4KD
— The Ennuiasel (@SonOfGibbo) April 3, 2019
People are outraged that British war veteran charity @4OurVeterans is defending its founder @TrevorCoultMC for praising UK paratroopers using an effigy of Jeremy Corbyn as gun target practice
The fact this charity is defending their founder says more about them than it does us pic.twitter.com/liU8pDWQdu
— Socialist Voice (@SocialistVoice) April 3, 2019
It does say much about both the organisation and the man.
But with 13,000 veterans homeless thanks to Conservative government policies, and Jeremy Corbyn the only political leader likely to change that…
To the soldiers shorting at an image of Jeremy Corbyn. When the army have finished with you and you find yourselves having to claim Universal Credit, or you join 13,000 other veterans without a home, Mr Corbyn will be there to help you.
— Rachael Swindon (@Rachael_Swindon) April 3, 2019
… these servicepeople are going to feel like a proper bunch of patsies if they actively oppose him becoming the UK’s democratically-elected leader – as some are predicting:
Here's a report of the comments made by that unnamed general. Identifying him, I would suggest, should be an even higher priority than investigating the soldiers who have deeply imbibed the anti-democratic culture that dominates British army life https://t.co/mDdABhBVHZ
— Jonathan Cook (@Jonathan_K_Cook) April 3, 2019
Senior voices in the Army are playing the incident down as an “error of judgement”:
"The Army is, and always will be, a totally apolitical organisation. This is a serious error of judgement"
16 Air Assault Brigade Commander Nick Perry on Jeremy Corbyn 'target practice' videohttps://t.co/5YRaFrBPpA pic.twitter.com/FbqeBexyfV
— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) April 3, 2019
“Apolitical”, is it? Here’s one ex-serviceman’s response to that:
Can we please get the idea that the armed forces are apolitical out of our heads, please?
Back in 1986, I joined the RAF. I vividly remember standing at ease on the parade ground and the intake being asked to put their hand up if they were a Labour voter 1/
— AerospaceMango (@aerospacemango) April 3, 2019
… you'll all be out of a job before you know it."
Even then, I knew I was Labour as my family had supported the miners during the strike and we'd had one stay over on a journey between pickets.
I was once detached to USAF Greenham Common for a month, to guard the wire… 3/
— AerospaceMango (@aerospacemango) April 3, 2019
I don't believe that will ever change.
Even with all the cuts and the veterans on the street, the will always be drill instructors telling kids what to think.
End/
— AerospaceMango (@aerospacemango) April 3, 2019
Meanwhile, members of the public have been making up their own minds – and they’re not impressed:
The Ministry of Defence have confirmed this is real. Following on from recent threats & attacks made on Jeremy, it really is a matter of urgency that the press reconsider the merits of doorstepping Jeremy at his family home address pic.twitter.com/rvvUhZGLGM
— Tory Fibs (@ToryFibs) April 3, 2019
Less than 3 years ago an MP was murdered. Yesterday we learned how close we came to another MP’s murder. The footage of soldiers using images of @jeremycorbyn for so-called “target practice” are disgusting, shocking and utterly unacceptable. MOD must investigate and act urgently
— Dave Prentis (@DavePrentis) April 3, 2019
Am sure many Tories would be delighted if someone murdered him as a result of their rhetoric. While wringing their hands and professing innocence and shock of course.
— Martin Frowd (@caldyr99) April 3, 2019
I was horrified to see the footage apparently showing soldiers firing at an image of @jeremycorbyn.
This disgraceful behaviour is deeply troubling and has no place in the Army.
I have written to @GavinWilliamson about the investigation that is underway. pic.twitter.com/WcELyHLDPE
— Nia Griffith MP (@NiaGriffithMP) April 3, 2019
(Robert Peston, below, is one of those best-placed to answer his own question, as a member of the mass-media representatives who have been so instrumental in demonising Mr Corbyn, in accordance with the wishes of the Conservatives.)
The media must change.
Corbyn and LAB have been demonised by the media since 2015.
The media must own this. #BrokenMedia— Bevan Boy 💚 (@mac123_m) April 3, 2019
This is absolutely horrific, and speaks of a growing dangerous radicalisation on the right against Corbyn in particular and the left in general https://t.co/DtXbmQ21Wa
— Owen Jones (@OwenJones84) April 3, 2019
Back in 2015, an unnamed general called for a de facto military coup against a hypothetical Corbyn government, and another general publicly spoke out against Corbyn, which I debated at the time here https://t.co/ZfBT9LSfwa
— Owen Jones (@OwenJones84) April 3, 2019
https://twitter.com/MattTurner4L/status/1113461221574029312
https://twitter.com/joejglenton/status/1113347363853283328
Disbelief as Sky News suggests UK soldiers are shooting at Corbyn image because of 'security concerns'.
By @wrightismighthttps://t.co/Ih1IBU8Mve
— Canary (@TheCanaryUK) April 3, 2019
Amongst the squaddies I know the dislike him because he is a pacifist. I find it more alarming how many squaddies read the Sun and believe the bullshit they print.
— Alan Williams (@Alandw) April 3, 2019
https://twitter.com/Aman_Sez/status/1113360112096358400
Today would be a good day for Labour to announce plans to radically reform and democratise the Armed Forces.
— Ronan Burtenshaw (@ronanburtenshaw) April 3, 2019
This is disgraceful. Really shocking. https://t.co/EtFS74tW63
— Peter Oborne (@OborneTweets) April 3, 2019
Obviously the Army must investigate this shocking video and the soliders involved. But if this is how they view the British leader of the opposition, there are wider concerns for how they view and, more importantly, treat, local Afghan people https://t.co/r9SdftMvkA
— Omar Khan (@omaromalleykhan) April 3, 2019
https://twitter.com/ShoebridgeC/status/1113473427791282176
Be in no doubt that #JeremyCorbyn is being set up to be murdered.
— John Wight (@JohnWight1) April 3, 2019
Whatever the facts of the matter really are, this incident has undermined trust in the UK’s armed forces – to a devastating extent.
People no longer believe they can trust the services to defend our nation, its laws and the way of life that we, as citizens of the United Kingdom, hold dear.
Instead, it seems the forces have been perverted until they exist only to defend the ruling class – meaning the Conservatives and representatives of the political far-right.
What will their leaders do to repair the damage – and will they even bother?
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They should be asking why 180000 forces personnel jobs have gone under these people 20000 police that’s just the tip firemen nurses doctors all gone with the Tory party even our news services media all put out Tory party news propaganda on it goes untill eyes are openned to their lies shamefully we have left thatchers greed of into most of our life’s many infected by this greed we even have the peasants pointing out to those on benefits yet most who work are and they better wake up has of universal credit is coming their way oh dear
No it shows young men shooting at a picture of a man who msm claim supports a group who indiscriminately killed some of the people who were in their regiment and the survivors who are now being tried for crimes
So you’re blaming the mainstream media for lying about Mr Corbyn?
It’s only Right wing extremists who join the army these days.
I think what concerns me most is the creeping gun readiness in the police forces and the well trained and armed riot squads. So easy to turn our police into quasi-military for use against civilians.This doesn’t even account for the 10,000 troops on standby for brexit disturbances.Against whom are all these ‘troops’ to be used? If they do get deployed there will be one hell of a backlash.
Personally, I think it deplorable but I know at least one soldier who… despises him. I tried to reason with him bit not being an armed serviceman, I can’t really argue with him, for I have not the knowledge.
Disgusting behavior…
They don’t realise JC could be their saviour if & when they get booted out or leave the army. .. All they get from this Govt is contempt (like the rest of us) I’m afraid they will find this a reality if this same Govt is still around & need help..
As for the “British war veteran charity” they’re not fit for purpose!! it’s sickening….