Alex Massie Alex Massie

The Labour party is now led by people who wanted the IRA to win

Most people in this country still have no idea who Jeremy Corbyn is. He exists in a fog of curiosity. Who is this guy? What does his election mean? Where are we going? Well, they are about to find out.

I am not surprised Corbyn has handed John McDonnell the plum job of being Shadow Chancellor. He is an old comrade and wanting his reward was always likely to receive it. It’s an interesting move, nonetheless.

I suppose it is possible few people under 35 have much of an idea about the IRA. Unfortunately, of course, most of the people who vote are over 35 and they remember the IRA all too well. And I am not sure they will take kindly to the fact the Labour party is now led by people who wanted the IRA to win.

This is no exaggeration. Jeremy Corbyn spent much of the 1980s speaking at Troops Out rallies. Given the choice between standing with Irish nationalists in the SDLP or Irish republicans in Sinn Fein and the IRA, Jeremy Corbyn chose the latter path.

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