Vladimir Putin would welcome a Labour win because Jeremy Corbyn is ‘gutless and feeble’ on defence, says Michael Fallon
Defence Secretary lacerates opposition leader over his failure to support NATO spending commitments
VLADIMIR Putin would welcome a Labour election win because of Jeremy Corbyn “feebleness” on defence, says Michael Fallon.
The Defence Secretary lacerated the opposition leader over his failure to support NATO spending commitments and his “gutlessness in response to Russian aggression”.
Hitting out on a visit to Estonia he also attacked Mr Corbyn for not backing the military deployment in Eastern Europe, or supporting Britain’s nuclear deterrent.
Mr Fallon spoke to reporters as he formally activated a Battlegroup of 800 combat troops plus 300 armoured vehicles on the Russian border to guard against the Kremlin’s ambitions.
He goaded the Labour leader on his defence policy, calling him “unwaveringly feeble at every opportunity.”
The minister said: “Russia will be watching Labour’s feebleness - that Jeremy Corbyn has not supported this deployment. He has questioned it.
“At every point he has voted against a stronger defence, including the renewal of trident last July.
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“Russia will be watching that, will have noted that feebleness and will be watching it throughout this campaign.
“Putin would certainly welcome feebler British defence - any undermining of our deterrent or our commitment to two per cent defence spending or any gutlessness in response to Russian aggression would certainly be welcome in Moscow.”
The Defence Secretary also took aim at Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP, saying: “She said she was ready to work with Labour to frustrate a Conservative government which is again extremely worrying for defence that you might see that kind of coalition.
“A coalition of chaos the Prime Minister called it, but one that might damage our defence because both Corbyn and Nicola Sturgeon would dismantle our deterrent and would weaken our defences.”
The attack comes as Mr Corbyn is set to deliver his first campaign speech of the election, where he will deny that Conservative victory in the June 8 poll is a “foregone conclusion”.
He will say his party can “change the direction of this election” by “putting the interests of the majority first”.
In a speech in London, he will say that Labour will fight on behalf of Britain’s “true wealth creators” and overturn a “rigged system” which favours rich individuals and businesses.
But splits are already starting to appear in his top team as Emily Thornberry appeared to reject John McDonnell’s call for higher taxes on those earning more than £70,000.