Labour descends into chaos as senior party figures clash over Britain’s nuclear deterrent
Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry said Trident renewal could be scrapped only to be slapped down by shadow defence secretary Nia Griffith
LABOUR descended into chaos last night after a row between two senior party figures over Britain’s nuclear deterrent.
Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry said a pledge to renew the Trident weapons system could be scrapped after a post-election review.
She described herself as “sceptical” about committing to Trident despite the manifesto.
Asked if the missile system would remain party policy, she said: “Well no, of course not, if you are going to have a review, you have to have a review.”
She was slapped down by shadow defence secretary Nia Griffith, who told BBC2’s Newsnight: “With all due respect, Emily is not the shadow defence secretary. I am.”
She said no one had raised removing Trident from the manifesto.
Asked whether Ms Thornberry was wrong, she said: “Indeed. Last year we looked at it at the national policy forum and it was decided we would keep the nuclear deterrent and that was reaffirmed at our conference in September.”
She also contradicted leader Jeremy Corbyn’s nuclear first strike policy, saying the effectiveness of the deterrent depended on being “prepared to use it”.
Mr Corbyn, campaigning in Birmingham yesterday, appeared to give a third position on Trident.
At first he did not commit to the current continuous at-sea deterrent.
When asked to commit to the four submarines needed for our round-the-clock defences, he said: “It is clear what is in the manifesto.”
Labour’s pledge, published on Tuesday, states it “supports the renewal of the Trident nuclear deterrent”.
A party source insisted: “Trident will be renewed come what may.”
PM Theresa May said yesterday: “We have seen yet again a Labour government led by Jeremy Corbyn would not be unequivocally committed to the Trident nuclear deterrent.”
Meanwhile, Labour MP John Woodcock said: “I’m pleased to say I’m not the person who can explain what is in Emily Thornberry’s mind at any particular moment.”
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