James O'Brien: Would You Send Your Son To War With Russia On This Evidence?

16 March 2018, 11:40 | Updated: 16 March 2018, 13:49

James O'Brien sided with Jeremy Corbyn over his argument to wait until we have concrete evidence of Russia's involvement in the Salisbury nerve agent attack before taking more serious action.

Theresa May says it is "highly likely" that the Russian state was involved in the attack on Sergei and Yulia Skripal and announced a series of measures, including the expulsion of 23 diplomats.

But the Labour leader said he felt we needed 100% proof of Russia being involved before we went any further. And as James discussed it, he asked a very powerful question.

James O'Brien in the LBC studio
James O'Brien in the LBC studio. Picture: LBC

He said: "I think he did it, but I can't prove it. What's wrong with saying that until it has been proved, we should hold fire. What's actually wrong with that?

"I became a bit of a tin pot patriot earlier this week. I became one of those slightly stupid flag wavers. I felt this affront to our sovereignty, this assault upon our streets merited a completely unified response.

"I use the phrase national unity a lot, but what does that actually mean? National unity is what sees us send our sons to the fields of Flanders to die in wars we don't understand. And send white feathers to those who've taken the time to workout whether this particular war is worth fighting.

`'Lions led by donkeys dying in their hundreds of thousands for a cause that none of them could properly articulate but which are being rendered, if you read the First World war poets, as a form of patriotism. Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori. That's where it leads, this blind call to arms.

"'It is a sweet and wonderful thing to die for one's country.' It's not, you know. Not unless it's a cause of unchallengeable integrity. And if I can't prove it and Theresa May can't prove it, at this point what is actually wrong with Jeremy Corbyn saying, 'Until we have proved it, let's hold back.'

"He backed the expulsion of diplomats and he called, I think, for greater economic sanctions. The Labour Party in general are a lot closer to enacting the Magnitsky Act than the Conservative Party are.

"The question of culpability has not been proved. As far as I am aware, Theresa May has said to Russia either this happened or that happened. It definitely came from Russia. It's either come as a result of government intervention or a security service intervention, a state-sanctioned murder.

"I'm 99.9% certain it is, but I can't prove it to you. And I'm a journalist. A politician can't prove it to you. Wouldyou send your son to this war without proof? Would you?"

More James O'Brien

See more More James O'Brien

Man whose parents were murdered by Hamas on October 7 says: We are on precipice of global war— Peace is possible.

Man whose parents were murdered by Hamas on October 7 says: We are on precipice of global war— Peace is possible

Full Disclosure live on stage with James O'Brien and Carol Vorderman: Buy your tickets here

Full Disclosure live on stage with James O'Brien and Carol Vorderman: Buy your tickets here

Exclusive
The Conservative Party Conference this year is more notable for who's not there than who is, both journalistically and possibly politically, says James O'Brien

After 14 years in power, Tories can't dodge responsibility for their mess, says James O'Brien

An LBC caller shared the shocking moment she discovered child sex abuse images on her ex-husband's computer

LBC caller shares harrowing moment she discovered child sex abuse images on ex-husband’s computer

Exclusive
'Messing with kids minds in a big way': Tony Blair calls for social media regulation as he admits 'we can't go on like this'

'Messing with kids' minds': Tony Blair calls for greater social media regulation, admitting: 'we can't go on like this'

Londoners to question the Mayor at annual State of London Debate with LBC

Londoners to question the Mayor at annual State of London Debate with LBC

Sacked borders watchdog David Neal said the Home Office is 'dysfunctional' and needs reform.

'It goes to the very top': Sacked border watchdog slams Home Office and calls for reform after Cleverly row

Exclusive
Shahd Waleed is trying to leave Rafah with her parents and enter Egypt

'They want us to experience pain': Young woman trapped in Rafah with her parents tells of terror as Israel invasion looms

Sir Keir Starmer has defended comments he made about Margaret Thatcher earlier this month.

Starmer defends Thatcher comments as he says he ‘completely disagrees’ with former prime minister’s politics

A caller to James O’Brien’s programme has shared footage of the extraordinary destruction done to his newly purchased property just outside of Durham.

Property investor's shock at 'unexplainable level of damage' he discovered after buying new home

Exclusive
James Cleverly replaced Suella Braverman as home secretary on Monday

'I've spent more time with James Cleverly this week than with Suella Braverman in the last year', Sadiq Khan tells LBC

James O'Brien discusses Suella Braverman's 'destructionist' leadership style with a caller

'She's a destructionist': James O'Brien caller claims Suella Braverman governs like 'a five-year-old'

James O'Brien

'She definitely has something on him': Caller and James O'Brien debate why the PM hasn't sacked Suella Braverman yet

'A complete reset of the top' is needed says caller.

'We're being let down': There is a 'complete disconnection' between parliamentary and local Conservatives says caller

James O'Brien

'It's essential that people are able to protest peacefully against war', says James O'Brien

James O'Brien

Rishi Sunak 'almost physically moves away' from Suella Braverman in House of Commons debate, says James O'Brien

James O'Brien

'Suella Braverman succeeded - she's caused hate', claims caller after Home Secretary criticises pro-Palestine marches

'A fish rots from the head': James O'Brien caller reacts to claims of misogyny in Downing Street during Covid Inquiry

'A fish rots from the head': James O'Brien caller reacts to claims of misogyny in Downing Street during Covid Inquiry

'Ludicrous, bogus, nonsense': James O'Brien is astounded by Boris Johnson 'laughing at Italy' during the pandemic

'Ludicrous, bogus, nonsense': James O'Brien is astounded by Boris Johnson 'laughing at Italy' during the pandemic

James O'Brien on Dagestan

'It's a hatred as old as religion itself': James O'Brien analyses escalating anti-Semitism after Muslim crowd storms Dagestan airport

Carol Vorderman shocked about UK Poverty

'One million children are living in destitution': Carol Vorderman struggles to comprehend stark wealth inequality in the UK

Wes Streeting on dentistry

Wes Streeting invites the government to steal Labour's policy to solve 'dickensian' NHS dentist crisis

James O'Brien

'I think they're the loneliest voters in Britain', James O'Brien claims after Tories' double by-election defeat

JOB and caller Andy

Biden's visit to Israel is to show that the US stands 'unequivocally' with Israel says James O'Brien caller

JOB and Usman

Israel's current response will only 'strengthen' Hamas by rearing Gazans who seek revenge warns this James O'Brien caller

JOB on deaths in conflict

James O'Brien unpacks the 'controversial' feeling of being 'equally devastated' by Palestinian and Israeli deaths

JOB on starmer speech

Keir Starmer is using 'working class as the opposite of having a sense of entitlement', notes James O'Brien

JOB on HS2 promises

James O'Brien criticises Rishi Sunak's watering down of 'illustrative' Network North projects funded by HS2 cut

Sadiq Khan and James O'Brien

Sadiq Khan declares there is 'no place for anti-Semitism' in London as kosher restaurant in Golders Green attacked

James O'Brien on the challenge HS2 scrappage poses to Labour.

‘How much can Rishi Sunak knock down before Keir Starmer becomes Prime Minister?, asks James O’Brien

James O'Brien

Rishi Sunak is like an 'incontinent cat': James O'Brien slams Tories ahead of PM's Party Conference speech

JoB and Jeremy Hunt

Navy veteran deeply hurt by Jeremy Hunt's plans to clamp down on benefit claimants