More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
"Very funny, very funny, absolutely ridiculous."
That's the less than generous review of Jeremy Corbyn's recent visit to Medway given by the Tory council leader.
Cllr Alan Jarrett, fresh from a convincing local election win, was certainly not impressed by the Labour leader's European election campaign launch.
Mr Corbyn spoke to a packed hall of supporters at the universities of Medway's Chatham campus last Thursday in what was the 69-year-old's first visit to Kent in his four years as leader.
Watch Cllr Jarrett react to Mr Corbyn's speech
He used the platform to rally the troops ahead of a potential snap general election and further clarified that his party would back a second Brexit vote if a deal couldn't be reached with Europe.
But Cllr Jarrett was bemused when Mr Corbyn congratulated "Medway Labour and Gravesham for the great victory you had in the local election last week".
"If the leader of Labour counts a 13 seat drubbing — in Medway the Tories won 33 seats and Labour 20 — as a victory then it makes you worry," snapped Cllr Jarrett.
Adding "the fact is they have lost six times in a row in Medway" for good measure.
In Gravesham Labour did indeed gain territory and Medway Labour chief Cllr Vince Maple was quick to point out that Mr Corbyn "clearly congratulated us on being the biggest Labour group for 20 years".
But Cllr Jarrett's critique went further — he thought the entire visit was a bad idea.
Listen to political editor Paul Francis analyse the visit
He said: "In Medway 63% of people voted to leave the EU and he has done everything he can to scupper Brexit. They want another referendum. That's and insult to British people.
"He can come here as much as he likes but I don't think most people take him very seriously apart from the usual sycophants of course."
Medway Tories previously came under fire for spending absolutely nothing on no-deal Brexit preparations, something Cllr Jarrett celebrated at a recent debate as the country was yet to leave.
After his speech in Medway Mr Corbyn travelled north to Gravesend where he met the victorious Labour group.
