THE EXPLOSIVE TAPE ‘WE NEED, WITHOUT LOOKING DEFENSIVE, TO SEAL DOWN THE TRIDENT THING’

Edited highlights of Labour spin doctor Seumas Milne on phone to Corbyn on train after his TV debate mauling over nuclear weapons

Milne: That went well, I mean I think you got through it OK. Corbyn (inaudible) Milne: ‘Yeah, the whole discussion is completely surreal, no one has used nuclear weapons for 72 years and they are not independent at all. The idea Britain would independently retaliate for some nuclear attack is all completely off the wall… [inaudible comment from Corbyn] completely bonkers. That’s why I’m always saying we should just say we will do whatever is necessary and effective to protect our people. Corbyn (inaudible) Milne: Yeah… he (TV debate host David Dimbleby) pushed nuclear a lot... the truth is nobody would… it’s a complete emperor’s new clothes. If there has been a first strike, what is the point of the second strike? Corbyn (inaudible) Milne: (laughs)... yeah, it would have already failed and there would be no point. It is bonkers. Social media are saying ‘Corbyn had the better run on domestic policy and his problems were in defence’. Corbyn (inaudible) Milne: We need, without looking defensive, to seal down the Trident thing so it doesn’t keep intruding in the next few days. We just need a form of words... to shut down the nuclear question.