Ken Loach has enthusiastically backed Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell on Thursday night’s BBC Question Time prompting both kudos and mockery.
The veteran film-maker said both men were “good leaders” and told fellow panellist, Labour’s shadow Brexit secretary, Keir Starmer, to “follow what they say”.
Loach was responding to a question from an audience member relating to Heathrow expansion and climate change during which he lamented the lack of unity in the Labour party.
He said: “It [a third runway] is an absolutely stupid decision, it’s unrealistic and it is disastrous.
“And I do wish for once the Labour MPs would follow the wisdom of their leaders Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell and stick with what they say.”
Then, pointing Starmer, added: “They’re good leaders, follow what they say.”
Reaction was mixed to say the least.
First the positive...
And the negative...
Loach, 79, has already produced a short film promoting Corbyn’s leadership campaign (you can watch the video below).
The eight minute documentary shows Corbyn interacting with supporters and being told he has “inspired” and “moved” people as they discuss education.
Loach’s film was screened at the final phone bank of Corbyn’s leadership campaign last month.
Corbyn told The Huffington Post UK: “Ken is one of the greatest directors of our time. I’m thrilled he could come along to some of our meetings to document people sharing their personal stories, discussing their reasons for supporting our agenda to transform and rebuild Britain and contributing ideas towards it.”
And Loach told HuffPost UK he approached Corbyn’s campaign because he “wanted to meet longstanding party members who are inspired by Jeremy, members who have rejoined the party and those who have joined Labour for the first time”.
“Over two days travelling to events and meetings with Jeremy I documented the sense of optimism and hope that explains why so many are ready to fight for the new settlement that Jeremy Corbyn offers - a vision for our country which in government can implement a shift in wealth and power to ordinary people,” he said.
David Dimbleby presented BBC Question Time from Gloucester. On the panel were Conservative business secretary Greg Clark MP, Labour’s shadow Brexit secretary Keir Starmer MP, president of the Liberal Democrats Baroness Brinton, film maker Ken Loach and Dia Chakravarty of the TaxPayers’ Alliance.