'That’s the same as Corbyn is saying now' C4 host catches out Fallon in terror interview
DEFENCE secretary Sir Michael Fallon snapped back at a news anchor over suggestions the Manchester bombing was linked to UK foreign policy saying terrorists cannot be given an excuse.
Fallon: I don't accept link between foreign policy and terrorism
The Tory politician hit out at Channel 4 News presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy saying policy abroad could not “explain away terrorist attacks in this country”.
Appearing on Channel 4 News, Mr Fallon batted away comments put to him by Guru-Murthy which suggested Boris Johnson had a similar opinion to Jeremy Corbyn on foreign policy in the Middle East.
Guru-Murthy said: “What I just put to you was not Jeremy Corbyn it was Boris Johnson, ‘the Iraq war did not create the problem of murderous Islamic fundamentalist though the war has questionably sharpened the resentments felt by such people in this country and given them a new pretext’.
“He goes on to say, ‘the Iraq war did not introduce the poison into our blood stream, but yes, the war did to potentiate that poison’.
Sir Michael Fallon said terror could not be "explained away" by UK foreign policy
What I don’t accept is that you can explain away terrorist attacks in this country by simply saying there’s been an issue with our foreign policy
“That’s exactly the same as what Jeremy Corbyn is saying now.”
But Sir Michael denied that was what the Foreign Secretary meant and insisted foreign wars could not be used to “explain away” acts of terror.
“I’d have to see the words you’re trying to quote to me, I don’t have them in front of me,” he said.
“What I don’t accept is that you can explain away terrorist attacks in this country by simply saying there’s been an issue with our foreign policy over the last few years."
Meanwhile, Jeremy Corbyn has said the threat of terrorism is growing and he would take “whatever action is necessary” to protect British people.
The party leader also said MI5 would have more resources if he is elected.
He said: “We just be brave enough to admit the war on terror is not working.
“Many experts in our intelligence and sec services have pointed out connections between wars in other countries such as Libya and terrorism here at home.”
But his opponents have privately pointed out that he has opposed anti-terror legislation on at least 13 occasions.