Jeremy Corbyn was "completely wrong" to have "stood with Russia" over the Salisbury chemical weapons attack, according to a Labour leadership candidate.

Lisa Nandy, one of five MPs vying to replace Mr Corbyn as their party's leader, launched a stinging attack on Labour's response to the use of the Novichok nerve agent in the Wiltshire city in March 2018.

At the time of the attack, Mr Corbyn called for the UK to continue "dialogue" with Moscow and failed to explicitly back then prime minister Theresa May's assertion of Russian responsibility for the attack.

Image: Lisa Nandy believes Labour 'failed on Russia'

Former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were left seriously ill after being poisoned by Novichok.

Both survived but months later Dawn Sturgess died in nearby Amesbury after handling a perfume bottle containing the nerve agent.


Speaking at an event in London on Wednesday, Ms Nandy said: "Russia is a regime that discriminates against LGBT people.

"That demonises muslims and other minorities and suppresses basic rights.

"That has invaded its neighbour and occupied a chunk of its sovereign territory.

"That used chemical weapons on the streets of the UK and murdered a homeless person.

"It was completely wrong that our response to this was to cast doubt on what happened and call only for dialogue.

"At a crucial moment, we hesitated in condemning an authoritarian regime that supports [Donald] Trump, invades its neighbours, steals its country's wealth, interferes in elections in Europe and America, attacks minority communities and then used chemical weapons on the streets of the UK.

"We stood with the Russian government, and not with the people it oppresses, who suffer poverty and discrimination.

"We failed the test of solidarity."

Image: Jeremy Corbyn called for 'dialogue' with Russia

Ms Nandy claimed Labour's response allowed the Conservatives to "get away with their own shocking weakness" on Russia, including the "suppressing" of a key report on Moscow's alleged interference in the UK.

The Wigan MP added: "The Labour leadership failed on Russia. We must put this right."

Ms Nandy also called for the UK not to strike a post-Brexit trade deal with the US if Donald Trump quits the Paris Agreement on climate change.

"We should be clear now that we would refuse to agree any trade deal with a country that has not ratified the Paris Agreement," she said.

"We must use trade to support climate action, not hamper it."

Image: The five candidates for Labour's next leader

Responding to Ms Nandy's comments on Russia, Andrew Fisher - who was a senior adviser to Mr Corbyn until the general election - said: "Repeating inaccurate Tory smears isn't very helpful or comradely.

"Jeremy repeatedly condemned Russia for its treatment of its LGBT citizens and other minorities.

"But yes, he wanted categorical evidence before making categorical statements. When the evidence was there, he did."

Ms Nandy is competing with Sir Keir Starmer, Rebecca Long-Bailey, Jess Phillips and Emily Thornberry to be Labour's next leader.

All five have secured the required number of nominations from Labour MPs and MEPs to be candidates, but now need to get the nomination of local Labour parties and affiliates, including trade unions.

On Tuesday, the National Union of Mineworkers announced its backing for Ms Nandy.

Sir Keir, the frontrunner in the contest, needs the backing of just one more union to secure his place on the ballot paper after winning the support of UNISON and the Socialist Environment and Resources Association (SERA).