Angela Rayner has sparked a row on the Labour left after saying she supports “shooting terrorists” and asking questions later.
Labour ’s deputy leader made the controversial off-the-cuff remark last month on a political podcast while discussing law and order.
She told The Political Party, by comedian Matt Forde: “Most people recognise ‘soft left’ so I would describe myself as soft left.
“But you know what, on certain things I’m not though. Because on things like law and order I am, like, quite hardline.
“I am like, you know, shoot your terrorists and ask questions second, if I’m honest.”
As the audience reacted with many laughing she said: “Sorry - is that the most controversial thing I’ve ever said?”
Allies insisted her words had been taken out of context and she was supporting the current guidance which allows the use of deadly force in a live attack where there is a threat to life, as in the London Bridge incident.
But Labour MP Diane Abbott said: “Is Angela suggesting a mandatory death sentence for suspected (but not convicted) ‘terrorists’?”
Critics highlighted Jean Charles de Menezes, an innocent, unarmed man who was shot dead by police in the wake of the London bombings.
Sonali Bhattacharyya of Momentum's National Coordinating Group said: "These remarks are deeply concerning. It was this approach that led to the assassination of Jean Charles de Menezes.
"You can't kneel for racial justice one day, then praise shoot-to-kill powers for the police the next.
"From regressive drug policy to abandoning the rule of law, Labour are trying to out-Tory the Tories.
“But it's working-class communities and people of colour who pay the price for this law-and-order agenda.”
Left-wing journalist and campaigner Ash Sarkar tweeted: “Unless Angela Rayner is talking about shooting people post conviction, then yes she’s referring to terror suspects. That’s their legal status.”
She added: “Jean Charles de Menezes didn’t do anything wrong. He had no connections to terrorism. He didn’t jump the barrier. He didn’t run away. He didn’t defy police orders.
“And maybe if police asked questions before shooting him seven times, he’d still be alive today.”
Tory Security Minister Damian Hinds declined to comment in detail on Ms Rayner’s remarks.
But he said: “We have the rule of law and we have a very clear framework within our brilliant counter-terrorism police… operate.
“I think that’s a good framework, and important one for us to uphold.”
Shadow Justice Secretary Steve Reed defended her remarks, telling Sky News: “Angela’s a Manchester MP. It’s not that long ago we had that terrible situation in the Manchester Arena.
"Police professionals have to take split second decisions sometimes. Angela was talking about active terrorists there, no suspected terrorists.”
In the podcast Ms Rayner explained “on the economy I’m really radical… I don’t see investment in our infrastructure as a dirty word.”
But she added: “On law and order, I think if you are being terrorised by the local thug, then yeah, I want a copper to come and sort them out.
“This is how I roll, I said that to Jeremy, I said ‘don’t ever put me in that position because you won’t like me’.
“We’re on a different page on something like that. That’s the beauty of the Labour Party for me, we do have different views, it’s about finding that way of connecting with the voters.”
She added: “I was plagued by anti-social behaviour, I was plagued by being robbed, and it’s not a nice situation.
“You should be hardline on things like that. It’s not just, ‘Oh you’ve been burgled here is a crime number’.”
“No, I want you to beat down the doors of the criminal and sort them out and antagonise them. That’s what I say to my local police, you know - three o’clock in the morning, antagonise them.”
The comments are the latest intervention on law and order by Labour.
Last week the Mirror revealed Labour would look at a “naming and shaming” scheme against people who buy recreational drugs.
Shadow Justice Secretary Steve Reed told the Mirror he pioneered the scheme when a council leader and would “absolutely look at” it under a Labour government.
He also claimed Labour “cared more about criminals than their victims” under Jeremy Corbyn.
He later clarified his position, saying in a report to Labour’s ruling body: "As we have seen in the recent past, there are clear dangers to us all in any kind of shoot to kill policy.
“And we must ensure that terrorist attacks are not used to undermine the very freedoms and legal protections we are determined to defend.
"But of course I support the use of whatever proportionate and strictly necessary force is required to save life in response to attacks of the kind we saw in Paris".
