Jeremy Corbyn came under fire today for refusing to say if he will wear a white poppy at the Cenotaph if elected Labour leader.
His office said he would wear a traditional red poppy, but repeatedly declined to say if he would also wear the white version, which many people regard as a highly political symbol of pacifism.
Mr Corbyn has worn both together on his lapel when laying a wreath at the war memorial in Islington as a local MP.
However, no senior party leader has yet worn a white poppy on Remembrance Day, the annual ceremony when the Queen leads political leaders and veterans honouring the war dead.
White poppies with “peace” on them are sold by Stop The War, a group chaired by Mr Corbyn. It was formed in 2001 to oppose the “war against terrorism”.
Asked if he would wear a white poppy, Mr Corbyn’s spokeswoman: “If elected leader of the Labour Party, Jeremy will of course wear a red one.” She refused to give further clarification.
Labour MP Simon Danczuk said many Labour supporters would object to such a politically-charged symbol being worn at the Cenotaph.
“I hope Jeremy will know where to draw the line on pushing a particular political agenda. The Cenotaph is no place to fight political battles.”
Another Labour MP said: “It would be an embarrassment.”
The Royal British Legion says it has “no objection to white poppies”. However, the RBL branch at Lewes branded as “offensive” a white poppy wreath laid by the town’s deputy mayor at its war memorial. The wreath was removed the same day
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