LABOUR leader Jeremy Corbyn sparked a backlash on Twitter over his criticism of the SNP.
Yesterday marked the 40th anniversary of a vote of no confidence in James Callaghan’s Labour government, which led to an election Margaret Thatcher won.
Corbyn tweeted a video blaming the SNP for Thatcher coming into power, with the caption: “Forty years ago today, @theSNP did this.”
He was met with fury from Scottish Twitter users, with many accusing him of focusing on the wrong target as Brexit draws near.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was among those who hit back over his attack.
READ MORE: Twitter reacts to Jeremy Corbyn's attack on SNP
She tweeted: “Dear @jeremycorbyn – instead of talking about things that happened when I was eight years old, how about showing some leadership today? You could start by asking yourself why the polls show you still trailing behind the most incompetent Tory government in our lifetimes.”
The most recent Scottish election opinion poll, carried out by Panelbase, had Labour on 19% – behind the Tories (27%) and SNP (41%)
The video shared by Corbyn included a clip of the Ravenscraig Towers being demolished.
SNP MSP Clare Adamson responded to Corbyn: “Those Ravenscraig Towers coming down are the reason I joined @theSNP. Wee reminder @NicolaSturgeon &
@FergusEwingMSP saved steel in my constituency in 2016 & I was proud to be part of the steel task force.”
Then PM Callaghan lost his
no-confidence motion by 311 votes to 310. All 11 SNP MPs voted in favour of Thatcher’s motion to oust him.
Reasons for his party’s unpopularity, which resulted in the Tory election victory, included a betrayal of Scotland over devolution.
The Labour MP for Islington South and Finsbury, George Cunningham, introduced a turn-out rule that meant a majority vote for devolution was rejected. Callaghan refused calls to grant devolution.
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