- Ben Bradley deleted tweet claiming Jeremy Corbyn sold British secrets to spies
- Labour leader’s lawyers told him delete the ‘libellous’ tweet or face legal action
- Tory MP was referencing the Sun’s accusations that he met a Czech diplomat who was a spy
Ben Bradley has deleted a tweet claiming Jeremy Corbyn ‘sold British secrets to communist spies’ after the Labour leader’s lawyers contacted him to delete the ‘libellous’ post.
The Tory MP’s tweet was a reference to accusations made by the Sun that Mr Corbyn met with a Czech diplomat who was a spy.
Replying to the Far Right Watch account earlier this afternoon, Mr Bradley tweeted: ‘Corbyn sold British secrets to communist spies… get some perspective mate!! Your priorities are a bit awry!’
The Far Right Watch account had quote tweeted an earlier tweet by Mr Bradley claiming he congratulated a homophobe.
Tory MP Ben Bradley tweeted earlier today claiming Jeremy Corbyn ‘sold British secrets to communist spies’. Guardian columnist Owen Jones suggested the Labour leader sue him
Mr Bradley’s tweet was a reference to accusations made by the Sun that Mr Corbyn met with a Czech diplomat who was a spy (Pictured: Mr Bradley’s official portrait)
Hours after the post, Guardian columnist Owen Jones tweeted a screengrab of the tweet with the caption: ‘Sue him, @jeremycorbyn. This straight out libel is indefensible in a court of law, and an example has to be made.’
It has racked up 3,000 likes and more than 1,200 retweets.
A spokesman for the Labour leader said: ‘Jeremy has instructed solicitors to contact Ben Bradley to delete his libellous tweet or face legal action.’
Several Twitter users have called for the tweet to be investigated by the Fake News Unit due to be set up by the Conservative government.
Labour MP David Lammy tweeted: ‘Hello @theresa_may may I suggest that your promised ‘Fake News Unit’ looks into the @Conservatives Party Vice Chair.’
Mr Bradley has not apologised to Mr Corbyn over the deleted tweet.
According to the Sun, Mr Corbyn met with Lt Jan Dymic, whose real name is Jan Sarkocy, several times.
Labour have acknowledged that Mr Corbyn met with Czechoslovakian diplomats but denied knowing the agent was a spy.
A spokesman for the Labour leader said: ‘Jeremy has instructed solicitors to contact Ben Bradley to delete his libellous tweet or face legal action’ (Pictured: Mr Corbyn at a rally in Scotland earlier this week)