The Labour party poses a “threat to national security” after the election of new leader Jeremy Corbyn, David Cameron has claimed, causing many of his opponents to believe he had gone too far in his criticism.

As Corbyn prepared to announce his shadow cabinet after an overwhelming victory in the Labour leadership election, a tweet sent from the prime minister’s official Twitter account on Sunday claimed Corbyn’s party was now a “threat to our national security, our economic security and your family’s security.”



The Labour Party is now a threat to our national security, our economic security and your family's security. — David Cameron (@David_Cameron) September 13, 2015

The prime minister’s warning appeared to be part of a coordinated response from the Conservative party, with defence secretary Michael Fallon echoing the very same remarks three times during an interview with the BBC.



“This is a very serious moment for our country,” Fallon said. “This election shows that Labour is now a serious risk to our national security, to our economic security and to the security of your family.”

Michael Gove, the justice secretary, said that Corbyn posed “serious danger” to “our country’s national security and economic security”. A large number of Tory MPs also tweeted similar messages in the wake of Corbyn’s victory, and the Conservative party account asked people to retweet the message “to let everyone know”.

Labour are now a serious risk to our national security. Please RT to let everyone know. pic.twitter.com/pH3c2S7RYa — Conservatives (@Conservatives) September 12, 2015

Labour has taken leave of its senses putting our economy, national security and future of ordinary working folk in peril. — Anna Soubry MP (@Anna_Soubry) September 12, 2015

This is a serious moment for our country: the main opposition party would destroy our economy and threatens the security our nation. — Ben Gummer (@ben4ipswich) September 12, 2015

Corbyn's election a key moment in British politics. He poses a far greater risk to our security than any other Labour leader in my lifetime — Gavin Barwell MP (@GavinBarwellMP) September 12, 2015

“Security” appears to be the new watchword of Cameron’s government – it was used six times by the prime minister in an article attacking Corbyn in the Times late last month, and eight times by the chancellor, George Osborne, in an article published in the Sun the following day.

Cameron’s remarks were criticised and ridiculed on Twitter by Labour MPs and others. Chi Onwurah, the Labour MP for Newcastle upon Tyne Central, accused Cameron of “weaponising the politics of defence while cutting our actual defence”. Another Labour MP, Graham Allen, said that by accusing Corbyn of posing a threat to national security the Conservatives risked “devaluing every future occasion they use this phrase”.

Economist Danny Blanchflower tweeted that it was “pretty rich for David Cameron to claim Corbyn threatens economic security as Tory austerity responsible for its biggest collapse in 300yrs”.

pretty rich for @david_cameron to claim Corbyn threatens economic security as Tory austerity responsible for its biggest collapse in 300yrs — Danny Blanchflower (@D_Blanchflower) September 13, 2015



Labour campaigner Owen Jones called the threat the “sort of rhetoric you’d expect from a tinpot dictatorship”.

Others poked fun at the prime minister’s words. The comedian Stephen Mangan called Cameron’s warning “panicky” and “daft”, while another comedian, Vikki Stone, shared a picture of herself hiding in the shed with a colander on her head and said: “Dear David Cameron I’m frightened. Do you think I’ll be safe from the Labour Party in here?”

Just seen this, thought it had to be a spoof but no. Bit panicky, Dave. And weak. And daft. https://t.co/U7Dn2a2ABD — Stephen Mangan (@StephenMangan) September 13, 2015

Dear @David_Cameron, I'm frightened. Do you think I'll be safe from the Labour Party in here? pic.twitter.com/GRui5UnxmX — Vikki Stone (@vikkistone) September 13, 2015

Corbyn was elected leader of the Labour party on Saturday in a landslide victory, winning 59.5% of the vote.

