Jeremy Corbyn wants to ‘meet and chat’ with anti-gay boxer Tyson Fury
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn says he’d like to meet boxer Tyson Fury – to discuss his anti-gay views.
Heavyweight boxing champ Tyson Fury is up for the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year award on Sunday – despite claiming that homosexuality and paedophilia will bring about the apocalypse.
The boxer has simultaneously stood by his comments and denied being homophobic – while also claiming that sex with children was legalised by a fictional ‘Gay Rights Act 1977‘.
Amid the controversy, Labour’s Shadow Leader of the Commons Chris Bryant has already challenged Fury to a fight – but now his party leader Jeremy Corbyn is also getting in on the action.
In an interview with Huffington Post, Mr Corbyn said of Mr Fury’s comments: “I wish he hadn’t made those remarks.
“I’m very unclear as to what he actually believes. I’d like to meet him and have a chat, if he’s up for it.”
He added: “I think there’s good in everybody. So let’s recognise we live in a world where people are gay, people are straight, people are transsexual, it’s OK, it’s not the end of the world, people have different faiths, it’s OK, it’s not the end of the world.
“I’d love to have a chat with him. I don’t know how he’d be with me, but I’m sure we could find something to talk about.”
However, unlike the Mr Bryant – a former amateur boxer – it doesn’t sound like the Labour leader will be getting into the ring.
The leader continued: “I’m not a great boxer, but I have visited the local boxing club and had a chat with them and they do good stuff with bringing degree of order into kids’ lives, I get on OK with them.”