Jeremy Corbyn has made it very clear he would not use our nuclear deterrent. He also has made some pretty clear comments concerning the use of our armed forces, and even their continued existence.
The Labour Party previously believed security, as provided by Trident, was an important issue. It has a previously settled policy on this. At the start of the labour conference, we were told by Jeremy Corbyn that Labour Party members, via their annual conference, would now be taking control of Labour Party policy. In particular, he said he would welcome a vote on the issue of Labour’s support for the principle of nuclear deterrence. But then he suddenly realised that if there was a specific vote on the issue, he’d lose it. So that particular exercise in internal democracy was hastily shelved.
In other words it is "I agree with the party ruling until it decides something I disagree with?"
His views on the army, defending our country and security and trident are well known and were made very clear this week. The problem is that the leader is at opposition with his own cabinet. For me the reaction of his shadow cabinet was actually by far the most interesting point on this issue.
The TV stations interviewed the shadow cabinet en masse at labour conference:
- Andy Burnham, who is Jeremy Corbyn’s shadow home secretary. His leader had been wrong to rule out the use of the deterrent, he said.
- Next was a clip of Maria Eagle. She is Jeremy Corbyn’s shadow defence secretary. Her leader had been wrong to rule out the use of the deterrent, she said.
- Next was a clip of Hilary Benn. He is Jeremy Corbyn’s shadow foreign secretary. His leader had been wrong to rule out the use of the deterrent, he said.
- Next was a clip of Angela Eagle. She is Jeremy Corbyn’s shadow first secretary of state. Her leader had been wrong to rule out the use of the deterrent, she said.
- Next was a clip of Lord Falconer. He is Jeremy Corbyn’s shadow Lord Chancellor. His leader had been wrong to rule out the use of the deterrent, he said.
- Next was a clip of Heidi Alexander. She is Jeremy Corbyn’s shadow health secretary. Her leader had been wrong to rule out the use of the deterrent, she said.
The full story is here, but to use the old phrase - in this debate between Corbyn and his MPs / party something's got to give:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/Jeremy_Corbyn/11904045/If-Jeremy-Corbyn-cant-change-Labours-mind-on-Trident-he-must-stand-down.html
