Diane Abbott accused of posting 'deeply dishonest' fake image of air raid
Diane Abbott has come under fire after posting a fake image of a bombing raid in a social media post about the Syrian air strikes.
The shadow home secretary dismissed as "pathetic" the row over her use of the picture.
Shocking to hear Tory minister on @BBCr4today claim that you can't allow Parliament to vote on war because that would be to "outsource the decision to people who don't have all the info" Do these people understand what parliamentary democracy is? pic.twitter.com/1sMxSJb48G
-- Diane Abbott (@HackneyAbbott) April 16, 2018
The Labour frontbencher used the image in a post hitting out at International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt, who was defending the Government's refusal to hold a parliamentary vote before launching air strikes in response to the chemical weapon attack at Douma.
Twitter users pointed out that the image used to illustrate her point was a composite showing what a fictional Israeli air strike in Tehran might have looked like, rather than an actual RAF raid on Syria.
It's a composite image featuring an Israeli F15 from an aviation blog five years ago https://t.co/TEbFUP8MPH
-- John Spray (@jcsp_tweets) April 16, 2018
But Ms Abbott dismissed criticism over her choice of image, saying: "Apparently, my use of this pic is 'important news'. Yes, UK goes to war without UN approval or even parliamentary debate.
"But the most important news is what pics I use in a tweet. Pathetic."
Apparently, my use of this pic is 'important news'. Yes, UK goes to war without UN approval or even parliamentary debate. But the most important news is what pics I use in a tweet. Pathetic.
-- Diane Abbott (@HackneyAbbott) April 16, 2018
The RAF's involvement in the joint operation with the US and France saw Tornado jets launch storm shadow missiles at the Him Sinshar chemical weapons storage site.
Diane massively undermines he own argument by showing a willingness to use a deeply dishonest image. Can any of us believe she, or Corbyn etc, would make a balanced judgement based on the facts rather than on their anti-West prejudice and a desire for party political advantage? https://t.co/VjbyJhbo4e
-- James Cleverly (@JamesCleverly) April 16, 2018
Tory MP James Cleverly said Ms Abbott had undermined her case by using a "deeply dishonest image" and accused her and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn of "anti-West prejudice".
The picture is outrageous, childish, and misleading, it is totally unacceptable for you to use it. To imply that this was a attack on civilian homes, as the picture does, is a vile misrepresentation and dishonours the RAF personnel involved. Delete the tweet and apologise.
-- James Cleverly (@JamesCleverly) April 16, 2018
Demanding an apology, he added: "To imply that this was a attack on civilian homes, as the picture does, is a vile misrepresentation and dishonours the RAF personnel involved."
