Caroline Lucas has resigned from Stop the War Coalition

Brexit & Foreign Policy

Green MP called stepping down 'the responsible thing to', as pressure mounts on Jeremy Corbyn

 

As pressure mounts on Jeremy Corbyn to pull out of the Stop the War Coalition’s fundraiser on Friday, the Green Party’s only MP Caroline Lucas has announced that she resigned from the group a few weeks ago. In a statement to Guido Fawkes, Lucas’ office said:

“Caroline stepped back from the Stop the War Coalition a few weeks ago. Her busy parliamentary and constituency schedule means that she doesn’t have time to fully engage with the role of a Patron and, in light of some recent StWC positions that she didn’t support, she felt standing down was the responsible thing to do. Like the Stop the War Coalition, Caroline is opposed to British bombing in Syria because it will neither keep Britain safe nor help bring about a lasting peace in Syria.”

Caroline Lucas had been the vice-president of the group, which has faced heavy criticism during weeks of tension over the Syria vote. Following Hilary Benn’s speech to Commons, the group was accused of praising ISIS after posting on its website:

“Benn does not even seem to realize that the jihadist movement that ultimately spawned Daesh is far closer to the spirit of internationalism and solidarity that drove the International Brigades than Cameron’s bombing campaign.”

Following the attacks in Paris it said France had ‘reaped the whirlwind’ of Western support for extremist violence in the Middle East.

Stop the War has also defended Russian aggression in Ukraine and Georgia, and more recently barred Syrians from speaking at its meetings on Syria.

Caroline Lucas has been a long standing and tireless critic of Western military intervention in the Middle East. Her resignation from Stop the War by no means equates to a resignation from her position on intervention; last week she said ‘the UK’s strongest contribution at this point would be through enhanced diplomacy’, and voted against airstrikes in Syria.

But her resignation has intensified the spotlight on Jeremy Corbyn; should he follow Lucas’ example and distance himself from such a controversial group?

Ruby Stockham is a staff writer at Left Foot Forward

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32 Responses to “Caroline Lucas has resigned from Stop the War Coalition”

  1. Little Richardjohn

    “the jihadist movement that ultimately spawned Daesh is far closer to the
    spirit of internationalism and solidarity that drove the International
    Brigades than Cameron’s bombing campaign.”
    The sheer brass-neck of pacifists. They didn’t support the republicans in 1936, supported the ‘appeasement’ of Hitler (i.e. surrender to). And now oppose any attempt to end Daesh genocide and imperialist expansion.
    STWC are an ultra-reactionary cancer at the heart of Progressivism. An logical endorsement of ‘Might Is Right’ power politics which tears up the UN Charter.
    In the frantic days before the UN passed UN1973 to rescue Bengazi, George Galloway (no less) called for a ‘New International Brigade’ to do the job – until he remembered who was funding the Gaza Convoys, after which all evidence of his gaff were removed.

  2. Shimon

    “in light of some recent StWC positions that she didn’t support, she felt standing down was the responsible thing to do” – which positions, exactly?

  3. JackieHolt

    “Benn does not even seem to realize that the jihadist movement that
    ultimately spawned Daesh is far closer to the spirit of internationalism
    and solidarity that drove the International Brigades than Cameron’s
    bombing campaign.”

    That, the quote on Paris and the defence of Putin in Ukraine prove that “Stop the War” is in no way pacifist – it seems perfectly happy with violence when the West’s interests are hurt. Repellent group, I’m glad Caroline Lucas has seen sense.

  4. Kellie Strøm

    History behind this decision: https://twitter.com/CarolineLucas/status/662337265243463680

  5. Yemach Shemo

    You mention the UN Charter? HA! Isn’t it illegal to ride over national boundaries with violent intent, without an express invitation from the nation whose borders you are riding over? It’s one of the highest crimes on the planet! It’s called waging aggressive war.

    Then you have the nerve to criticise the Gaza Convoys. Convoys taking relief to victims of your, so-called, Progressivism, which I call Israeli atrocities against civilians.

    Mate, if you are passing my place, please, PLEASE do come and talk to my garden. It would benefit from a deep pile of manure.

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