Jeremy Corbyn caught up in row over ‘9/11 conspiracy’ vicar

Leadership hopeful: Jeremy Corbyn
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Jeremy Corbyn was embroiled in controversy today for defending a vicar who posted a link to conspiracy theories that Israel was responsible for 9/11.

The Labour leadership contender reportedly stepped in after the Reverend Stephen Sizer was disciplined by church authorities in February for posting the link on his Facebook page and saying it raised “many questions”. Mr Corbyn wrote a letter during the controversy suggesting the Rev Sizer was “under attack” because he had “dared to speak out against Zionism”.

The episode came after a string of controversial statements about the Middle East on social media by the Rev Sizer, who is based in Virginia Waters.

But Mr Corbyn wrote at the time: “Reverend Stephen Sizer seems to have come under attack by certain individuals intent on discrediting the excellent work that Stephen does in highlighting the injustices of the Palestinian-Israeli situation.”

A spokesman for Mr Corbyn was not available. The Left-winger, who has emerged as a frontrunner to succeed Ed Miliband, today unveiled promises aimed at students and youngsters.

He vowed to restore the education maintenance allowance for college students, which was abolished as part of the cuts. Other plans included allowing housing benefit for under-21s and providing “properly paid” apprenticeships. In addition he confirmed he would cut the voting age to 16.

“Under my premiership, we in the next Labour government will be committed to making these dreams of a fairer start in life for all young adults become reality,” he said. But leadership rival Andy Burnham warned that some new recruits to Labour attracted by Mr Corbyn’s rhetoric “don’t have the party’s best interests at heart”.

The shadow health secretary became the latest senior figure to voice concern that so-called “entryists” from the hard Left were seeking to infiltrate the party in order to vote for Mr Corbyn.

It is thought that about 190,000 of the 390,000 people eligible to vote in the leadership election have signed up since Labour’s general election defeat.

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They include affiliated supporters who have to pay just £3 to take part, as well as individual members of trade unions and other organisations which are affiliated to the party.

In an interview with The Huffington Post UK, Mr Burnham acknowledged that many had been drawn by the excitement generated by Mr Corbyn’s leadership bid.@JoeMurphyLondon

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