A councillor in Lichfield has said that Labour leadership hopeful Jeremy Corbyn’s willingness to talk to terrorist groups shouldn’t cause alarm.
The favourite to replace Ed Miliband has described members of Hamas as “friends”.
The 66-year-old Islington MP also invited Gerry Adams and members of Sinn Fein to the House of Commons weeks after the 1984 Brighton IRA bombing.
He also drew criticism from the families of IRA victims for failing to condemn the group.
But Cllr John Brooks, Labour representative for Curborough on Lichfield City Council, believes Mr Corbyn is merely highlighting how dialogue with extremists is a better alternative to war.
“It was through talking that the last Labour government achieved peace in Northern Ireland,” he said. “Terrorism won’t be defeated through endless war, it didn’t work in Iraq or Afghanistan.
“If you’re just going to refuse to talk to terrorist groups then no conflict would ever get resolved.”
