John McDonnell sparks backlash from Labour and Tory MPs for calling Winston Churchill a 'villain'

Ex-foreign secretary Boris Johnson has demanded he withdraw the comment

Both Conservative and Labour politicians have reacted angrily in the wake of shadow chancellor John McDonnell’s description of wartime prime minister Sir Winston Churchill as a “villain”.

Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson demanded he withdraw the comment, while the grandson of the ex-PM Sir Nicholas Soames branded the attack “foolish and stupid”.

Some Labour MPs also distanced themselves from the comment, in response to a sequence of quick-fire questions in an interview with Politico that was streamed live on the internet.

Writing on Twitter, Mr Johnson – author of a book on the wartime leader – said: “Winston Churchill saved this country and the whole of Europe from a barbaric fascist and racist tyranny and our debt to him is incalculable.

“If John McDonnell had the slightest knowledge of history he would be aware that Churchill also had an extraordinary record as a social reformer who cared deeply for working people and their lives. JM should be utterly ashamed of his remarks and withdraw them forthwith.”

Tory MP Sir Nicholas Soames, grandson of the former Conservative prime minister, told the Daily Telegraph: “Frankly, it’s a very foolish and stupid thing to say, surely said to gain publicity.

“I think my grandfather’s reputation can withstand a publicity-seeking assault from a third-rate, Poundland Lenin. I don’t think it will shake the world.”

Labour MP Ian Austin voiced his disagreement by posting a picture on social media of a figurine of the wartime leader he keeps at home.

Mr Austin said: “Look who takes pride of place on my mantelpiece in Dudley: A real British hero, the greatest ever Briton, the man who motivated Britain to defeat the Nazis and fight not just for our liberty but the world’s freedom too.”

When asked in the interview whether he thinks of Sir Winston as a hero or villain, Mr McDonnell answered with two words: “Tonypandy, villain”.

His response made clear that he held the former PM to blame for sending in troops to deal with striking miners in the South Wales town of Tonypandy when home secretary in 1910.

His decision to deploy a detachment of Lancashire Fusiliers to support police dealing with riots was followed by confrontations in which nearly 80 police and 500 civilians were injured and one miner died. His responsibility for the events is a matter of fierce historical debate.