News / Politics
Carla Denyer forced to clarify statement wishing Biden well
Carla Denyer has been forced to clarify a statement she made about Joe Biden stepping down from the US presidential race.
Many within the Green Party had criticised their co-leader for a tweet on Sunday night in which Denyer wished Biden well and thanked him “for his many years of public service”.
On Monday, the Bristol Central MP released a second statement saying that “the world needs the next US president to be a peacemaker”.
She said: “For decades successive US Governments have supported the Israeli government’s illegal occupation of Palestinian land, and Biden is complicit in the slaughter of innocent people in Gaza.
“Last night I was positive about President Biden’s decision to stand aside as a candidate.
“Some people read into this that I was offering my unmitigated support for his Presidency, including the policy of selling arms to Israel.
“Given my long-running work campaigning for peace, this is the last thing I wanted and certainly not my position.
“I am sorry for not making it clearer, and that my comments left some in doubt and concerned.
“The next president needs to work for peace, stop arms sales to Israel, and ensure an immediate ceasefire and release of all hostages.
“The world needs the next US President to be a peacemaker.”
Denyer’s original tweet has been seen more than 2.2m times since it was posted on Sunday:
Her clarification was sent on Monday at 1.39pm:
In a statement to Bristol24/7, Denyer added that while “President Biden has done the right thing in stepping aside as a Presidential candidate, that does not absolve him of his complicity in breaches of human rights law.
“As an active campaigner against selling arms to the Israeli Government and in support of international law, I am clear that Biden must be held accountable for his role in the atrocities that are being committed on a daily basis in Gaza.”
Joe Lever, a Green Party councillor on the Isle of Wight, said Denyer’s original statement was “needlessly favourable” about “someone who has enabled a genocide”.
Denyer was criticised for having “breathtaking pomposity” by Telegraph journalist Madeline Grant.
Owen Jones, who helped campaign for Denyer at the general election, in which Labour’s stance on Gaza was seen as one of the reasons for Thangam Debbonaire’s loss, said he hoped Denyer “reconsiders this tone deaf statement”.
Jones later called Denyer’s clarification “very good”.
Jaime Breitnauer, the Green Party’s candidate for Bristol South in the 2024 general election, said: “People criticising Carla have no idea what diplomacy is.
“Yes, Joe Biden was a public servant. Yes, he did many good things in office. No, no country should currently be arming the state of Israel, including the UK.
“Would you take Trump instead? Biden critics are Trump enablers.”
Main photo: Joe Biden
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