• Disrupting Power Since 2015
  • Donate
  • Login
Friday, May 16, 2025
  • Login
  • Register
Canary
MEDIA THAT DISRUPTS
  • News
    • UK
    • Global
    • Analysis
    • Trending
  • Editorial
  • Features
    • Features
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Money
    • Science
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Sport & Gaming
  • Media
    • Video
    • Cartoons
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
MANAGE SUBSCRIPTION
SUPPORT
  • News
    • UK
    • Global
    • Analysis
    • Trending
  • Editorial
  • Features
    • Features
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Money
    • Science
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Sport & Gaming
  • Media
    • Video
    • Cartoons
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
Canary
No Result
View All Result

How Jeremy Corbyn was falsely linked to Warrington bombing

Tom Coburg by Tom Coburg
28 August 2018
in Analysis, UK
Reading Time: 3 mins read
174 2
A A
0
Home UK Analysis
327
SHARES
2.5k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is a victim of yet another smear. This time it’s an attempt to link him with one of the 1993 bombings in Warrington attributed to the Provisional IRA. But the claim, ludicrous as it appears, barely survived before it vanished with little trace into the ethernet.

Except that is not quite true.

Trail uncovered

David Aaronovitch yesterday accused “Red Action” rather than the IRA of having carried out the terrorist atrocity of the #WarringtonBomb and accused #Corbyn of being a close associate of the bombers. No allegation against the Leader of the Opposition could be more serious.

— George Galloway (@georgegalloway) August 27, 2018

The smear against Corbyn appears to have first originated with the Times newspaper, when Andrew Gilligan asserted that Corbyn attended several meetings with anti-fascists Red Action.

Next, Times columnist David Aaronovitch went one step further to argue that at least one Red Action member may have been responsible for the second of two Warrington bombings in 1993, both claimed by the IRA:

Finally, for a completely different reason, I've been going back over the 1993 Warrington bombing. There's a big possibility that it was carried out by far-left people associated with a group called Red Action. I offer no prizes for which Labour figure was close to Red Action.

— David Aaronovitch (@DAaronovitch) August 26, 2018

This follows a 2013 BBC documentary which also speculated about Red Action involvement.

What is known is that Patrick Hayes, a Red Action member, and Jan Taylor were convicted of planting a bomb outside Harrods in London and on a train in Kent, purportedly on behalf of the IRA.

But there has been no evidence produced that links either Hayes or Taylor with the Warrington atrocities.

Sneaky editing

Aaronovitch’s allegations against Corbyn seemingly came after the Wikipedia page on Red Action was edited on 19 August – the same day Gilligan’s article was published:

So Corbyn is guilty by (alledged) association because there is a “big possibility” of Red Action involvement in the Warrington bombing? I checked out RA on Wikipedia – guess what? It was edited YESTERDAY to link Jeremy Corbyn to them. https://t.co/PATEhUv0BV

— Lisa (@lisa_k_c) August 26, 2018

Here is the edit:

https://twitter.com/SocialistChris/status/1033970322884780032?s=19

A search by The Canary traced the computer from which the edit came to a small Somerset village we’ve chosen not to name.

The edit, which was later removed, said:

In August 2018, it was reported that Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn was investigated by the police due to his involvement with the group while as an MP in the 1980s and 1990s. According to Andrew Gilligan in the The Sunday Times, ‘Jeremy Corbyn came to the attention of police after becoming involved with Red Action’ and ‘Corbyn spoke at at least three Red Action meetings between 1985 and 1992 and the group sometimes met at his then constituency office, ex-members said.’

There were several edits and re-edits to the Red Action page during the following days, specifically regarding mentions of Corbyn.

Notably, two years after the Warrington bombings, Red Action was infiltrated by an undercover police officer known as Mark Cassidy, but whose real name is Mark Jenner.

Politics?

The recent smears come shortly after shadow chancellor John McDonnell tweeted that a revival of the Anti Nazi League could be needed to help confront a rising far-right:

With the scale of Tommy Robinson demos, the storming of Bookmarks bookshop, & now Boris Johnson’s Islamophobic comments, we can no longer ignore the rise of far right politics in our society. Maybe it’s time for an AntiNazi League type cultural and political campaign to resist.

— John McDonnell (@johnmcdonnellMP) August 6, 2018

Justice

There were two bombings in Warrington in 1993 – the first was at the gas works, but no one was injured.

Tragically the second bombing in Bridge Street killed three-year-old Johnathan Ball and twelve-year-old Tim Parry and injured 54 members of the public. But the perpetrators of the bombing have never been identified, let alone charged or convicted.

The families of those who died or were injured in that bombing deserve justice, not media speculation and party politics.

Get Involved!

– Read more from The Canary about Jeremy Corbyn.

Featured image via Sophie Brown – Wikimedia

Share131Tweet82
Previous Post

There’s a very big problem with Iain Duncan Smith’s plans to tackle gang violence

Next Post

Reading Festival just proved the anti-Corbyn smears ain’t sticking

Next Post
Jeremy Corbyn and Reading Festival

Reading Festival just proved the anti-Corbyn smears ain't sticking

A split screen of Nelson Mandela and Theresa May

Channel 4 News exposed the shocking hypocrisy of Theresa May praising Nelson Mandela

Nicola Sturgeon with the DWP logo as a benefit change starts in Scotland

The DWP has been put to shame by the Scottish government. But there's a catch.

Jeremy Hunt

Jeremy Hunt destroys the last shred of his government's moral authority in one single tweet

John Humphrys and Radio 4 Today programme logo

In two interviews, John Humphrys shows exactly why people are switching off the BBC's Today programme

Trump has just sparked another major national security row
Analysis

Trump just sparked another major national security row – not that he cares

by Steve Topple
15 May 2025
The far-right's latest attack on Jeremy Corbyn is its most preposterous yet - with Lee Anderson leading the charge
Analysis

The far-right’s latest attack on Jeremy Corbyn is its most preposterous yet

by James Wright
15 May 2025
Starmer Rwanda deportation plan
Analysis

Just when you thought Starmer couldn’t stoop any lower – he does this

by Ed Sykes
15 May 2025
Jewish anti-Zionists IJAN respond to police ban on protest against Israeli ambassador
Analysis

Jewish anti-Zionists IJAN respond to police ban on protest against Israeli ambassador

by Ed Sykes
15 May 2025
Social Media Activism: How Grassroots Movements Are Gaining Power Online
Lifestyle

Social Media Activism: How Grassroots Movements Are Gaining Power Online

by Nathan Spears
15 May 2025
  • Contact
  • About & FAQ
  • Get our Daily News Email
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy

The Canary
PO Box 71199
LONDON
SE20 9EX

Canary Media Ltd – registered in England. Company registration number 09788095.

For guest posting, contact [email protected]

For other enquiries, contact: [email protected]

The Canary is owned and run by independent journalists and volunteers, NOT offshore billionaires.

You can write for us, or support us by making a regular or one-off donation.

© Canary Media Ltd 2024, all rights reserved | Website by Monster | Hosted by Krystal | Privacy Settings

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • UK
    • Global
    • Analysis
    • Trending
  • Editorial
  • Features
    • Features
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Money
    • Science
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Sport & Gaming
  • Media
    • Video
    • Cartoons
  • Opinion

© 2023 Canary - Worker's co-op.

Before you go, have you seen...?

Trump has just sparked another major national security row
Analysis
Steve Topple

Trump just sparked another major national security row – not that he cares

The far-right's latest attack on Jeremy Corbyn is its most preposterous yet - with Lee Anderson leading the charge
Analysis
James Wright

The far-right’s latest attack on Jeremy Corbyn is its most preposterous yet

Starmer Rwanda deportation plan
Analysis
Ed Sykes

Just when you thought Starmer couldn’t stoop any lower – he does this

Jewish anti-Zionists IJAN respond to police ban on protest against Israeli ambassador
Analysis
Ed Sykes

Jewish anti-Zionists IJAN respond to police ban on protest against Israeli ambassador

ADVERTISEMENT
Lifestyle
Nathan Spears

Social Media Activism: How Grassroots Movements Are Gaining Power Online

Travel
Nathan Spears

Best Destinations In Spain For A Couples Holiday

Travel
Nathan Spears

Surviving Long Layovers: A Frequent Traveller’s Guide