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Six headlines about Jeremy Corbyn, versus what he actually said

Picture: Dan Kitwood/Getty
Picture: Dan Kitwood/Getty

Many supporters of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn believe the coverage he receives from 'mainstream' media is biased against him.

This is the same mainstream media which gave Corbyn more coverage than any of the other four candidates during the 2015 leadership election.

Private Eye, edited by the boarding school and Oxford educated, establishment, 'mainstream' BBC One panelist Ian Hislop, did highlight how the cards could be perceived as stacked against the Labour leader by compiling a list of headlines which purported to quote Corbyn, compared to the accurate or extended transcript.

Media-sceptic Corbynistas have started a #WeAreHisMedia campaign, aimed at sharing information without the filter of mainstream media.

Some have criticised it as propaganda of a different kind, or else something of a joke.

Yet there is some truth to the maxim (usually attributed to Joseph Heller) that 'Just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't after you'. And in the case of #WeAreHisMedia, there is evidence of anti-Corbyn bias among journalists.

In July the Independent found that 75 per cent of headlines concerning Jeremy Corbyn misrepresent him. A report by the LSE also looked into the media representation of Corbyn and found that the majority of leading newspapers were critical or antagonist towards Corbyn more than they were positive or neutral about him.

indy100 has found more recent Corbyn headlines, and where possible has supplied the full quotes to give them some context. Decide for yourself:

1. Comparing Israel to Isis:

Here is an excerpt from Corbyn's speech, given to Labour members when the party's report into internal anti-semitism was released.

Our Jewish friends are no more responsible for the actions of Israel or the Netanyahu Government than our Muslim friends are for those of various self-styled Islamic states or organisations. Nor should Muslims be regarded as sexist, antisemitic or otherwise suspect, as has become an ugly Islamophobic norm. We judge people on their individual values and actions, not en masse.

2. Labour MEPs reject Corbyn

In their clarifications section, the Guardian amended an article which incorrectly stated the level of Corbyn's support among Labour members of the European parliament.

3. 'Leftie who hates the royals WILL kiss Queen's hand to grab £6.2m'

When the Short Money allowance (state cash for opposition parliamentary parties) was at risk because Corbyn postponed joining the Privy Council, the Sun depicted him as a 'Court Jezster', with the headline: 'Leftie who hates the royals WILL kiss Queen's hand to grab £6.2m'.

They later printed a correction, after a complaint from the Independent Press Standards Authority was upheld (See tiny square in the bottom left):

4. Corbyn weakness on EU campaign leads to Piketty resignation

Another member of Corbyn's economic council Anne Pettifor shared the email which showed Thomas Pikkety's reasons for his resignation - that he supports Corbyn, but feels as though he is not qualified for the day to day of British politics.

5. 'How Jeremy Corbyn welcomed the prospect of an asteroid 'wiping out' humanity'

In 2004 Corbyn was one of three MPs to sign an Early Day Motion, sponsored by the then MP Tony Banks which read:

That this House is appalled, but barely surprised, at the revelations in M15 files regarding the bizarre and inhumane proposals to use pigeons as flying bombs; recognises the important and live-saving role of carrier pigeons in two world wars and wonders at the lack of gratitude towards these gentle creatures; and believes that humans represent the most obscene, perverted, cruel, uncivilised and lethal species ever to inhabit the planet and looks forward to the day when the inevitable asteroid slams into the earth and wipes them out thus giving nature the opportunity to start again.

It was amended by Conservative MP Peter Bottomley, at which point Corbyn, Banks, and John McDonell withdrew their support.

6. His great grandfather ran a workhouse

The article alleged that Corbyn's great grandfather James Sargent was the master of a 'Dickensian' workhouse. Corbyn claimed he had never heard of this man, but did take the opportunity at the 2015 Labour Party conference to address the issue.

I want to take this opportunity to apologise for not doing the decent thing and going back in time and having a chat with him about his appalling behaviour.


More: People are arguing this tweet proves there's a 'media bias' against Jeremy Corbyn

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