Jeremy Corbyn told to 'sit down and shut up' in Commons as he criticises Iraq War after publication of Chilcot report

A number of MPs reported unrest on the Labour benches as the Labour leader gave his statement on the Chilcot report

Samuel Osborne
Wednesday 06 July 2016 13:13 BST
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Corbyn on Chilcot Inquiry

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Jeremy Corbyn was told to "sit down and shut up" as he criticised the Iraq War in a speech to the House of Commons after the publication of the Chilcot report.

Labour MP for Dudley North Ian Austin heckled the Labour leader, telling him to "shut up" and shouting "you're a disgrace".

Speaker of the House, John Bercow, interrupted proceedings and said: "The Right Honorable gentleman is entitled to be heard with courtesy."

As Mr Corbyn gave his statement on the Chilcot report in Parliament, a number of SNP MPs reported unrest on the Labour benches.

Responding to Mr Austin's heckles, the SNP's Gavin Newlands tweeted: "Typically pathetic & thuggish heckle of his own leader by Ian Austin MP during Corbyn's fantastic dissection of Blairs lies & deceit."

Deidre Brock wrote: "Head shaking & groans of discontent going up from Labour back benchers behind Corbyn as he speaks in statement on Chilcot."

Mr Austin was criticised for his remarks on social media:

Mr Corbyn did not mention Tony Blair by name during his speech, but said MPs had been "misled" by the former premier's government and added that those responsible for the decision to go to war must "face up to the consequences".

He said: "There are no more important decisions a Member of Parliament ever gets asked to make than those relating to peace and war.

"The very least that MPs and the country should be able to expect is rigorous and objective evidence on which to base their crucial decisions.

"We now know that the House was misled in the run-up to the war and the House must now decide how to deal with it 13 years later, just as all those who took the decisions laid bare in the Chilcot Report must face up to the consequences of their actions, whatever they may be."

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