Cold feet about ever using Trident nukes

LABOUR is ‘extremely cautious’ about using the Trident submarine system and would only send the Army to war as a last resort, its manifesto reveals.

Jeremy Corbyn, who has been against nuclear weapons throughout his political career, is committed to getting rid of the missiles in the long term as his party plans to ‘create a nuclear-free world’.

Setting out the party’s defence policy, which will be agreed by officials today, Mr Corbyn said: ‘Labour supports the renewal of the Trident submarine system.

‘But any prime minister should be extremely cautious about ordering the use of weapons of mass destruction which would result in the indiscriminate killing of millions of innocent civilians.

‘As a nuclear-armed power, our country has a responsibility to fulfil our international obligations under the Nuclear NonProliferation Treaty.

‘Labour will lead multi-lateral efforts with international partners and the UN to create a nuclear-free world.’

Concerns have been raised that the party may shy away from intervention in conflicts such as Syria due to its pledge only to deploy the Army if ‘all other options have been exhausted’.

Mr Corbyn famously clashed with his then shadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn over whether to launch air strikes in Syria at the end of 2015 after he called on his MPs to oppose the Government’s plan, while Mr Benn supported intervention.

The manifesto also states: ‘Labour’s commitment to spending at least 2 per cent of GDP on defence will guarantee our Armed Forces have the capabilities to fulfil the full range of obligations.’

But it adds: ‘The first duty of any government is to protect its citizens. But we also have a duty to protect our Armed Forces personnel. That’s why we will never send them into harm’s way unless all other options have been exhausted.’

The Labour leader has also previously disagreed with his defence spokesman over the future of Trident after he hinted it would not be included in the manifesto.

Nia Griffith said Trident was ‘vital’ to the UK’s defence despite her leader’s opposition, provoking a row in the party.

Mr Corbyn is a member of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and voted against renewing Trident last July.

Two years ago, he said he would never use Britain’s nuclear weapons, even if the country came under attack.