Trump's defence of US diplomat linked to deadly crash 'the most crass, insensitive comment anyone could ever make', Jeremy Corbyn says

Labour leader says he would look at taking legal action against US amid diplomatic immunity row over hit-and-run death of Harry Dunn

Jeremy Corbyn has attacked Donald Trump's response to the case of a young British man killed in a hit-and-run accident, accusing the US president of "the most crass, insensitive comment anyone could ever make".

The death of 19-year-old Harry Dunn in Northamptonshire in late August is at the centre of a row between the US and UK after it emerged that the main suspect is the wife of a US diplomat, who therefore has diplomatic immunity.

Anne Sacoolas, who is alleged to have been driving on the wrong side of the road when the young motorcyclist was killed, returned to the US despite telling local police she had no such plans.

The UK government has urged Mr Trump to withdraw the diplomatic immunity in order to allow police to question Ms Sacoolas, with Boris Johnson raising the case during a call with the US president.

But speaking on Wednesday, the Republican appeared to defend her, saying that driving on the wrong side of the road "can happen".

He said: "The woman was driving on the wrong side of the road, and that can happen. You know, those are the opposite roads, that happens."

The comments were described as "insensitive, clumsy, oafish and insulting" by a spokesperson for the Dunn family and also condemned by Mr Corbyn during a visit to Northamptonshire on Thursday.

Answering questions after a speech in Northampton, the Labour leader said the US decision to grant Ms Sacoolas diplomatic immunity had been "completely unacceptable" and claimed Labour would look at taking legal action if it was possible to do so.

He said: “I'm alarmed about that.

“For somebody to be killed in our country and the person who did it to flee to the United States and then claim diplomatic immunity is completely unacceptable."

He added: “I know the family went to see Dominic Raab yesterday. We would put every bit of possible pressure we could on the United states.

“If we could mount legal action in the United States, we would do so because it is simply not acceptable for someone to seek diplomatic immunity when somebody - a wholly innocent individual - has been killed by the behaviour of somebody else.”

Mr Corbyn also used the speech to condemn Turkish attacks in northern Syria as "completely unacceptable".

He said: "More violence is never the solution. To end war you have to make peace, which is what all sides should do now.

"The Syrian peace process must mean peace and security for the Kurdish people too, whose voice must be included and heard. Reckless military interventions have made Britain and the world a more dangerous place."

In his first major address since the party's annual conference in Brighton last month, Mr Corbyn also said that Labour will back a general election once it is clear a no-deal Brexit on 31 October has been avoided.

He denied Mr Johnson's claims that the party is avoiding an election, saying he did not trust the prime minister not to force through no-deal.

He said: ”Prime minister, we can't trust you not to break the law because you've got form. So it's simple: obey the law, take no-deal off the table and then let's have the election.“

Mr Corbyn reiterated his party's promise to hold a second referendum within six months of a Labour government taking office, adding: ”After three years of Tory failure, it’s time to take the decision out of the hands of politicians and let the people have the final say, so a Labour government will immediately legislate for a referendum."