Jeremy Corbyn speaks to Julian Assange and praises him for 'what you have endured'

Jeremy Corbyn said he spoke to Julian Assange on Wednesday to congratulate him after the WikiLeaks founder was freed from a London jail and returned home to Australia under a US plea deal.

The former Labour leader tweeted: “I just called Julian Assange to congratulate him, Stella and the legal team for their victory.

“Thanks to your resilience, you have made everyone who believes in peace, justice and freedom even more determined today,” he said.

“Julian, we will never forget what you have endured for us all.”

The WikiLeaks founder was released from Belmarsh prison in London under a plea deal with US authorities and returned home to emotional scenes in Canberra, where he embraced his family including wife Stella and father John Shipton.

Mr Corbyn, who is standing in next week’s election as an independent after he was expelled from the Labour party, was a regular fixture at London protests in support of Assange.

In 2022, the MP joined hundreds of other people in forming a human chain around Westminster and urged other politicians to come out in support of the cyber-activist.

“I would say to MPs – actually of any party – you’re there to represent democracy and rights,” he said then.

“That’s what you sign up for… if Julian Assange is extradited, it will set forth fear among other journalists of doing anything to expose truth.”

Assange was accused of receiving and publishing hundreds of thousands of war logs and diplomatic cables that included details of US military wrongdoing in Iraq and Afghanistan.

He pleaded guilty to one charge, bringing to an end the years-long case.

While his supporters portrayed him as a martyr for free speech and independent journalism, critics said he had recklessly endangered the lives of sources for US and allied intelligence sources in Iraq and Afghanistan.