He was speaking last night (Picture: Pink News)

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has been criticised after he said people ‘choose’ to be gay and lesbian.

Speaking at the start of LGBT history month, Mr Corbyn gave a speech in solidarity with people, whatever their sexuality.

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However, the wording he used has raised questions.

‘We’re with you, we’re in solidarity with you,’ he said. ‘Your triumphs are our triumphs.


‘Our defence of you is a defence of all of humanity and the right of people to practise the life they want to practise, rather than be criminalised, brutalised and murdered, simply because they chose to be gay, they chose to be lesbian, they were LGBT in any form.’



His comments are made at the end of this video by Pink News, who shot it on Facebook Live last night.





Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn launches UK LGBT History Month ð³ï¸âð ð³ï¸âð Geplaatst door PinkNews op Woensdag 1 februari 2017

Memo to @jeremycorbyn – People don't 'choose' to be gay anymore than I 'chose' to be left-handed. — Vicky Prior (@QueeniePrior) February 2, 2017

Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn talking about how people 'chose to be gay'.

Erm, we didn't choose to be gay, we were born this way. https://t.co/9P9JTjyBwQ — Michael ??? (@Taylor_Mikey_) February 2, 2017

Video of the speech on Twitter caused an immediate stir, with Conservative councillor Paul Church describing the comments as ‘retrogressive and offensive’, saying: ‘LGBT+ people do not ‘choose’ who they are.’

One commenter responded: ‘Well intentioned but complete FAIL’ while another said: ‘I think we need a new type of left-wing politics…led by Gen-Ys.’

The Labour press office has responded to the controversy with a short statement.

‘Jeremy clearly doesn’t believe that being gay is a choice,’ they told PinkNews.

‘He obviously meant people should be able to choose how they live their lives.’