What is really going on in politics? Get our daily email briefing straight to your inbox Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the war on terror has failed and the West must find a ‘smarter’ way to tackle terrorism

Despite criticism he was politicising the Manchester attack, Mr Corbyn used his first major speech since the atrocity, to say that British foreign policy decisions had contributed to terrorism in the UK.

In a nuanced speech he said that standing up to terrorism also meant taking a full part in our democracy.

He said: "We cannot carry on as if nothing happened in Manchester this week. So let the quality of our debate be worthy of our country."

He paid tribute to all those who have died and pledged that: "Terrorists with their atrocious acts of cruelty will never divide us and will never prevail".

But he said that it was right to think about how we tackle these issues.

(Image: REUTERS) (Image: PA)

He told the audience: “We must be brave enough to admit the ‘war on terror’ is simply not working. We need a smarter way to reduce the threat from countries that nurture terrorists and generate terrorism.

“Many experts, including professionals in our intelligence and security services, have pointed to the connections between wars our government has supported or fought in other countries and terrorism here at home.”

He said: “That assessment in no way reduces the guilt of those who attack our children. Those terrorists will forever be reviled and held to account for their actions.”

He pledged to reverse Tory cuts to the police, after it was revealed there are 20,000 less officers than in 2010.

He said: “Labour will reverse the cuts to our emergency services and police. Once again in Manchester, they have proved to be the best of us.

(Image: PA)

(Image: Cavendish Press/Pat Isaacs)

“Austerity has to stop at the A&E ward and at the police station door. We cannot be protected and cared for on the cheap.

“There will be more police on the streets under a Labour Government. And if the security services need more resources to keep track of those who wish to murder and maim, then they should get them.”

Mr Corbyn said the government could not prevent every attack but said more should be done to reduce risk.

He said: “No government can prevent every terrorist attack. If an individual is determined enough and callous enough sometimes they will get through.

“But the responsibility of government is to minimise that chance - to ensure the police have the resources they need, that our foreign policy reduces rather than increases the threat to this country and that at home we never surrender the freedoms we have won and that terrorists are so determined to take away.”

(Image: AFP) (Image: AFP)

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

But critics hit out at the timing of Mr Corbyn's speech.

Labour's Neil Coyle, who is seeking reelection in Bermondsey said today's speech was “badly timed”.

“Personally I think this intervention is badly timed and I struggle to see the analysis,” he told Sky News.

Nigeria, Sweden and France are all under attack too, he added.

Former leader of the Librral Democrats Paddy Ashdown said: "Now is not the time, and this is not the event, to seek political advantage."

Tory security minister Ben Wallace said: "I think his timing is incredibly disappointing and crass given there’s a live police operation.”

He accused Mr Corbyn of trying to “make a political statement about it,” adding: “His timing is appalling... I don’t think the substance of what he says is correct at all."