Russia 'uneasy' with NATO's presence in Baltics says EU chief
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Young Labour took to Twitter this week to condemn the Labour leader’s backing of “NATO aggression”, claiming it is against the party’s values.
In the tweet posted on the group’s page, it said: “While we accept differences in policy positions to the current leadership of our party, we are especially concerned in this instance to see Keir Starmer pushing not only for further engagement with NATO, but celebrating it while attacking Stop The War and other pro-peace activists”.
Broadcaster Andrew Neil responded to the tweet, simply writing: “A Useful Idiot writes …”.
One Twitter user agreed, commenting: “Ironically enough, NATO is what prevents war.”
The Labour youth attack comes days after Sir Keir slammed the pacifist group Stop The War for their naivety over the 130,000 Russian troops massed on the Ukrainian border.
He accused them of siding with “authoritarian leaders who directly threaten democracies”, and said there’s “nothing progressive in showing solidarity with the aggressor when our allies need our solidarity and – crucially – our practical assistance now more than ever”.
The youth wing, chaired by left-wing activist Jess Barnard, say they condemn the leader’s comments and stand in solidarity with the Stop the War coalition, as well as others organising against NATO involvement.
The group said: “NATOs acts of aggression both historical and present are a threat to all of our safety. Young Labour’s delegates from across our membership and affiliates voted that we should withdraw from NATO and pursue an international policy based on peace, adopting this as official policy.”
The youth group accused the Labour leader of stoking up tension and “macho posturing”, claiming Sir Keir is “trying to ‘out do’ the Tories” with his backing of NATO.
They said it will “only lead to further devastation, loss of life and displacement of people across the world”.
The tweet concluded: “Labour has too often been on the wrong side of international issues. Young Labour calls on the leadership to stop backing NATO aggression, call wholeheartedly for peace, commit to constructive engagement with activists and deliver international policy around peace and cooperation.”
However, not all members agreed with one commenting: “As a member of Young Labour and the Youth Officer for my constituency, I am embarrassed at this apologia of Russian aggression against a sovereign state in Europe. Ukraine ought to be supported by those who want peace in Europe and are willing to defend it at any cost.”
The Scottish Young Labour group, and Basingstoke Young Labour group have also publically shared their solidarity with Labour’s commitment to NATO.
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Sir Keir recently visited NATO headquarters in Brussels where he blasted the Stop The War coalition, in which former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is a key figure.
He said: “Nobody wants war. At first glance, some on the left may be sympathetic to those siren voices who condemn Nato.
“But to condemn Nato is to condemn the guarantee of democracy and security it brings, and which our allies in eastern and central Europe are relying on, as the sabre-rattling from Moscow grows ever louder”.
Some NATO members including the UK, EU and US have set out potential aggressive sanctions on Russia including holding up the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, starving the country of foreign capital, and targeting banks and oligarchs close to the Kremlin.
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