Party ‘could move Trident jobs elsewhere’

LABOUR is working on a plan to scrap Trident by persuading unions that high-skilled jobs can be moved to other sectors.

The party is committed to spending billions of pounds to replace the nuclear deterrent, which is in part due to pressure on Jeremy Corbyn from union bosses who represent workers on the project.

But Fabian Hamilton, the party’s shadow minister for peace and disarmament, is reportedly working on plans to scrap the nuclear project and redeploy workers to sectors such as technology, transport and education.

Mr Hamilton, the MP for Leeds North East and a close ally of Mr Corbyn, has drawn up a defence diversification strategy that senior figures hope will win the backing of the shadow Cabinet, paving the way for Mr Corbyn to scrap the missile project altogether if he were to win power.

Mr Hamilton is said to be working on a “peace doctrine” that would set out how the party could drop support for the £40 billion replacement scheme without upsetting union bosses.

A major part of the plan would be to ensure that skilled engineers would be found jobs in other sectors. Mr Corbyn has been shown a 25-page outline of the plan, according to reports.

Stuart Andrew, the defence minister, said: “The Labour Party are showing the real danger they pose to our security by scrapping our deterrent that has kept us safe for decades.”