Jeremy Corbyn’s suggestion that the UK should seek “back channel” talks with the Islamic State has today been roundly rejected by the British public.
More than half of respondents to the BMG Research poll for the Standard said ministers should not seek talks with the terror group. Asked whether the Government “should or should not seek to open any sort of dialogue with the group known as Islamic State”, 57 per cent of people said it should not.
Twenty two per cent said the Government should seek a dialogue, and 21 per cent did not know.
BMG research director Dr Michael Turner said: “A majority of supporters for all the major political parties were in opposition. Most strongly against were Ukippers and Conservatives.
“Labour supporters also felt it was a bad idea, with just over 50 per cent indicating the Government should not seek to open a dialogue.”
In a BBC interview in January, Mr Corbyn pointed out the Government had maintained a “back channel” with the IRA and the Taliban.
Asked if Britain should open a dialogue with IS, he said: “No, dialogue is perhaps the wrong word to use... There has to be some understanding of where their strong points are, where their weak points are, and how we can challenge their ideology.”
