Labour MP Chris Williamson today praised the Venezuelan government at a pro-regime rally in London, despite the widespread human rights abuses committed by President Maduro’s administration. Williamson expressed his support for Venezuela’s “democratically elected government”, endorsed their economic record and said he was “celebrating Hugo Chavez’s legacy”.

Human rights organisation Amnesty International yesterday reported that government forces had detained 243 protesters this week, warning that “they are risk of torture or other ill-treatment”. Amnesty finds that the socialist government’s “security forces have resorted to the excessive use of force, including the use of live fire, and even torture when dealing with protesters”. 2,157 have been arrested, 37 people have been killed and more than 550 have been injured. Amnesty accuse the government of a “politically motivated attempt to silence dissent in the country”. The regime has also begun to ration food, water and electricity as its economy falls apart. 

Williamson refused to condemn the human rights abuses reported by Amnesty when approached by Guido. Makes you wonder what people would say if he were a UKIP member, rather than merely a sitting Labour MP…

UPDATE:

"if we follow the lessons of Venezuela, we can fulfil the dreams of the many in the UK" – @ChriswMP #vensolconf pic.twitter.com/5LThRRUZLS

— Tara O'Reilly (@e_tarajane) May 10, 2014