Police and politicians round on Labour leader who offered condolences to family of officer he mistakenly said had died

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

Jeremy Corbyn has been criticised for offering condolences to the family of a Northern Irish police officer “who lost his life over the weekend” when he is in fact alive.

The prime minister, Theresa May, opened weekly questions in the House of Commons by sending “thoughts” to a police officer shot in Belfast and praising the work of the Police Service in Northern Ireland (PSNI).

When Corbyn took to the dispatch box, he echoed the PM’s remarks but wrongly stated that the officer was dead, prompting criticism from police officers and politicians.

“I join the prime minister in expressing condolences – I’m sure of the whole house – to the family of the police officer who lost his life over the weekend in Northern Ireland,” he said. A spokesman for the Labour leader later said Corbyn had meant to say “nearly died”.

The Police Federation for Northern Ireland (PFNI), which represents more than 10,000 police officers of the ranks below chief inspector, called on Corbyn to apologise to the officer after what they called a “jaw-dropping gaffe”.

Mark Lindsay, the PFNI chairman, said: “Frankly, I’m appalled that the leader of Her Majesty’s opposition should get this so badly wrong on the floor of the House of Commons.



“It was a jaw-dropping gaffe and he should immediately apologise to the officer and his family.

“Mr Corbyn was either poorly briefed by his staff or he’s that much out of touch with what is happening. Either way, it’s a shocking error to make and needs to be corrected.

“Our colleague is recovering after the ambush on the Crumlin Road. We welcome the expression of good wishes from the prime minister, which preceded Mr Corbyn’s contribution, and which more accurately reflected the mood of the house.

“We have excellent working relationships with a number of MPs and I know they will be appalled and embarrassed by Mr Corbyn’s comment.”

The North Belfast DUP MP, Nigel Dodds, described Corbyn’s comments as “one of the worst displays of crass ignorance that could be imagined. The idea that someone who sees himself as an alternative prime minister could be so out of touch to make such a basic and hurtful error is almost unbelievable.”

Ulster Unionist MP Tom Elliott also called on Corbyn to apologise. The Fermanagh and South Tyrone MP said: “For the leader of the opposition not to be aware of the details and utter that the officer had ‘lost his life’ is a huge error, which I fear reflects a disinterest or lack of knowledge in Northern Ireland affairs.

“This incident could have caused undue stress to the injured police officer and his family, I therefore call on Jeremy Corbyn to publicly apologise for the remarks.”

In an update on Monday, the PSNI said the community police officer, who sustained two bullet wounds to his arm, had undergone surgery and was “recovering well in hospital”.



The officer was shot several times in the arm at about 7.30pm at a garage in north Belfast on Sunday. Responsibility for the attack has reportedly been claimed by a group calling itself the IRA.

A spokesman for the Labour leader said: “He meant to say ‘nearly died’. Obviously, the last thing that was intended was any offence.”