Lisa Nandy attacked Jeremy Corbyn over his response to the Salisbury poisonings today saying it was “totally wrong”.
Mr Corbyn failed to condemn the Kremlin directly for the Novichok poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in March 2018. Two other people later fell ill, including Dawn Sturgess who died.
Mr Corbyn said he wanted further proof of Russia’s involvement and called on the then prime minister Theresa May to maintain “robust dialogue” with Russia.
Making a speech on foreign policy in London today, Labour leadership contender Ms Nandy accused the party of standing “with the Russian government, not with the people it oppresses”.
Ms Nandy told the Royal Society of Arts: “Russia is a regime that discriminates against LGBT people, that demonises Muslims and other minorities and suppresses basic rights, that used chemical weapons on the streets of the UK and murdered a homeless person.
“It was totally wrong that our response to this was to cast doubt on what happened and call only for dialogue. We stood with the Russian government, and not with the people it oppresses, who suffer poverty and discrimination. We failed the test of solidarity.”
Ms Nandy, the MP for Wigan, has won the support of the National Union of Mineworkers in her battle to succeed Mr Corbyn.
Stephen Kinnock MP, who is backing her, said they were hoping for another big trade union endorsement next week.
It comes as the second phase of the Labour leadership race started with nominations opening for constituency Labour parties and affiliated groups such as trade unions to formally back a candidate.
