David Lammy slams Jeremy Corbyn after former leader refused to call Hamas terrorists

David Lammy used a speech in the House of Commons this lunchtime to savage Jeremy Corbyn in a thinly-veiled personal attack.

The shadow foreign secretary took aim at his former party leader, who last night refused to answer questions from Piers Morgan about whether Hamas is a terrorist group and whether they should remain in power in Gaza.

Mr Lammy told the Commons: “I’d like to register my shock that not every member of this House can say this truth Hamas are terrorists”.

The words are yet another attempt by the current Labour leadership to put clear blue water between themselves and Mr Corbyn’s disastrous time at the helm of the party.

His public slap-down also comes ahead of what is being billed as a major showdown between Sir Keir Starmer and Labour frontbench rebels.

This afternoon, the Labour leader is reportedly bracing to face down his rebel frontbenchers and sack more than 10 shadow ministers if they rebel on a crunch vote tomorrow.

The SNP tabled an amendment last week demanding an end to fighting in Gaza, with the support of left-wing Labour backbenchers.

Today a Labour source told the Telegraph: “Support for this motion is not compatible with serving on the front bench.”

They added: “There will be absolutely no dilution in the position not to back a ceasefire.”

Last night Jeremy Corbyn was involved in a heated clash with Piers Morgan on his TalkTV show.

Mr Corbyn refused to call Hamas a terror group a whopping 25 times during the showdown, and 11 times whether the terrorists should stay in power in Gaza.

The former Labour leader said he does “not approve, support or welcome Hamas”.

Asked whether Hamas should stay in power, Mr Corbyn said he wants to see a ceasefire.

When Mr Morgan tried a second time a short-tempered Jeremy Corbyn hit back: “Look if you want to have a discussion fine. If you want to just shout at me that’s your prerogative, your TV, your show”.

“Listen, what I said was a ceasefire means a ceasefire, it means both sides have to cease fire.”

As Mr Morgan continued to question him on whether Hamas should stay in power, a visibly irritated Mr Corbyn said: “Are you done yet?”

The host said: “It’s a critical question. Should they stay in power? This country says they’re a terror group. Do you agree and should they stay in power?”

Mr Morgan eventually concluded: “You wonder why people think you had a problem with Jewish people”.