Former cabinet minister Harriet Harman also joined in the applause, but was chastised by Miliband’s brother (and defeated leadership rival) David. David leaned toward her and said: “You voted for it, why are you clapping?” Hardly the best start.
2016: Jeremy Corbyn says he’s really, really sorry about the Iraq war.
When veteran left-wing lawmaker Jeremy Corbyn sensationally took the Labor leadership in 2016, he had a lot to say about the reasons for a string of election defeats and how to put things right.
He accused Westminster institutions of being out of touch with young people, condemned a “intrusive” and “violent” media and suggested his party had abandoned its core supporters.
But Corbyn also made the promise of a further apology to Iraq a central promise of his leadership bid, which he delivered repeatedly.
It was “past time” to apologize on behalf of the Labor Party, the veteran anti-interventionist later said. He said Britain’s intervention was based on “deception” in which MPs were “misled” by the highest levels of government.
Like his predecessor, Corbyn hoped setting the record straight would encourage disillusioned voters, especially young people, to return to his party, even if it meant short-term outrage from the right.
