Jeremy Corbyn criticises Javid for revoking Shamima Begum’s citizenship

Jeremy Corbyn has criticised the decision to strip Shamima Begum of her British citizenship and said she should be permitted to return to the UK to face questioning.

Home Secretary Sajid Javid made the move after the teenager, who fled London aged 15 to join Islamic State’s self-proclaimed caliphate in Syria, said she wanted to return to the UK with her newborn son.

The Labour leader on Thursday criticised Mr Javid’s action as “very extreme” after diplomatic tensions broke out with Bangladesh denying the 19-year-old had citizenship in the nation she has apparently never visited.

Mr Corbyn told ITV News: “She obviously has, in my view, a right to return to Britain.

“On that return she must obviously face a lot of questions about everything she has done and at that point any action may or may not be taken.

“But I think the idea of stripping somebody of their citizenship when they were born in Britain is a very extreme manoeuvre indeed.

“Indeed, I questioned the right of the Home Secretary to have these powers when the original law was brought in by Theresa May when she was home secretary.”