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Labour conference: Jeremy Corbyn faces battle over Trident Labour conference: Jeremy Corbyn faces battle over Trident
(35 minutes later)
Jeremy Corbyn has admitted he faces a battle to persuade his shadow cabinet to back him on scrapping nuclear weapons, at the Labour conference. Jeremy Corbyn has admitted he faces a battle to persuade his shadow cabinet to back him on scrapping the UK's Trident nuclear weapons.
The Labour leader called for an end to Britain's "weapons of mass destruction" in an interview on the BBC's Andrew Marr Programme. Speaking to the BBC's Andrew Marr at the Labour conference, the party leader said there may be a "difference of opinion" on the issue when MPs vote.
But he said there may be a "difference of opinion" on the issue when MPs vote. His deputy Tom Watson said he hoped to persuade Mr Corbyn to change his view.
He also called for a crackdown on corporate tax avoidance, singling out Boots as a possible target. Mr Corbyn also called for a crackdown on corporate tax avoidance, singling out Boots as a possible target.
Mr Corbyn has vowed to transform Labour into a "big, open democratic" party where policies are openly debated rather than dictated by the leadership.Mr Corbyn has vowed to transform Labour into a "big, open democratic" party where policies are openly debated rather than dictated by the leadership.
'Free vote''Free vote'
The first test of the new approach will come this week in Brighton, when party members are set to vote on a string of key policies, including Trident, Syria and the EU. The Trident vote is likely to take place on Wednesday, the BBC understands.The first test of the new approach will come this week in Brighton, when party members are set to vote on a string of key policies, including Trident, Syria and the EU. The Trident vote is likely to take place on Wednesday, the BBC understands.
Parliament will also vote on renewing Trident next year but there is likely to be a free vote for Labour MPs, Labour's deputy leader Tom Watson has said. Parliament will also vote on renewing Trident next year but there is "likely" to be a free vote for Labour MPs, Mr Watson said.
Mr Corbyn, who is a longstanding anti-nuclear campaigner, said he hoped to do his "persuasive best" to get Mr Watson and other shadow cabinet members, such as shadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn and shadow justice secretary Lord Falconer, to back him on Trident, but it would not be a "disaster" if there was a difference of opinion.Mr Corbyn, who is a longstanding anti-nuclear campaigner, said he hoped to do his "persuasive best" to get Mr Watson and other shadow cabinet members, such as shadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn and shadow justice secretary Lord Falconer, to back him on Trident, but it would not be a "disaster" if there was a difference of opinion.
He said: "We are going to come to an accommodation of some sort."He said: "We are going to come to an accommodation of some sort."
Tom Watson told BBC Radio 5 Live's Pienaar's Politics: "Jeremy says he seeks to persuade us - I seek to persuade him too." Mr Watson, a former defence minister, told BBC Radio 5 Live's Pienaar's Politics: "Jeremy says he seeks to persuade us - I seek to persuade him too."
He added that in "modern politics... you simply cannot have homogeneous positions where 200 people follow a line on everything".
Labour MP John Woodcock, who represents Barrow-in-Furness, where Trident submarines are built, said the majority of Labour MPs were in favour of renewing Trident and it would get the go-ahead when Parliament votes on it.Labour MP John Woodcock, who represents Barrow-in-Furness, where Trident submarines are built, said the majority of Labour MPs were in favour of renewing Trident and it would get the go-ahead when Parliament votes on it.
All Labour MPs, including frontbenchers, could also be given a free vote on whether to support extending Britain's involvement in airstrikes against so-called Islamic State targets from Iraq to Syria.All Labour MPs, including frontbenchers, could also be given a free vote on whether to support extending Britain's involvement in airstrikes against so-called Islamic State targets from Iraq to Syria.
Behind-closed-doors meetings will take place later to decide what the Labour conference motion on Trident will say.Behind-closed-doors meetings will take place later to decide what the Labour conference motion on Trident will say.
'Trotskyists welcome'
BBC political correspondent Ross Hawkins said it could be watered down into a bland compromise text that reveals little about the party's future direction.BBC political correspondent Ross Hawkins said it could be watered down into a bland compromise text that reveals little about the party's future direction.
'Better' policy forum
Mr Corbyn also detailed plans to open up the party's policy-making process to the thousands of new members, many of whom supported the radical left-wing platform on which he stood in the leadership election.Mr Corbyn also detailed plans to open up the party's policy-making process to the thousands of new members, many of whom supported the radical left-wing platform on which he stood in the leadership election.
Asked whether "Trotskyists" thrown out during former leader Lord Kinnock's reforms to the party in the 1980s would now be allowed back in, Mr Corbyn said: "Anyone is welcome to join the Labour Party, providing they support the principles of the party and be content with that. Asked whether "Trotskyists" thrown out during former leader Lord Kinnock's reforms to the party in the 1980s would now be allowed back in, Mr Corbyn said: "Anyone is welcome to join the Labour Party, providing they support the principles of the party and be content with that."
"Thousands have joined the Labour Party in the last few weeks, 50,000 maybe, 60,000, since I was elected two weeks ago, 150,000 since the general election.
"This is a growing, enthusiastic, optimistic party."
'Insurrection'
He said he was "not concerned in the slightest" if there were revolutionary left-wingers joining the party as he set a target of building Labour's membership to 500,000.He said he was "not concerned in the slightest" if there were revolutionary left-wingers joining the party as he set a target of building Labour's membership to 500,000.
Islington North MP Mr Corbyn added: "Neil (Kinnock) is one of my constituents, we get along fine." Angela Eagle, chair of Labour's National Policy Forum, told the conference the party was launching a review of how it makes its policies.
Setting out his plans to involve members and local parties in the policy process, he said: "There's a whole lot of talent out there. She said she hoped it would produce "a bigger and better" policy forum suited to "a new kind of politics that involves and engages people more directly".
"I'm not sure that the political classes... fully appreciate the disillusionment of so many people with traditional politics and their love and desire to be involved and have their voice heard. That's what I want to unlock." Mr Corbyn said there was an enormous "love and desire" among ordinary people "to be involved and have their voice heard", adding: "That's what I want to unlock."
He also defended his shadow chancellor John McDonnell who has said in the past that he supports "insurrection" on the streets for political ends.
'Student demonstration''Student demonstration'
He also defended his shadow chancellor John McDonnell who has said in the past that he supports "insurrection" on the streets for political ends.
He told Andrew Marr Mr McDonnell had used "colourful" language to make a point, adding: "I'm not in favour of violence on the street or insurrection.He told Andrew Marr Mr McDonnell had used "colourful" language to make a point, adding: "I'm not in favour of violence on the street or insurrection.
"I believe in doing things by persuasive, democratic means, that's what we have a parliamentary system for, that's what we have a democratic political structure for.""I believe in doing things by persuasive, democratic means, that's what we have a parliamentary system for, that's what we have a democratic political structure for."
Mr McDonnell criticised a 32-month sentence handed down to Ed Woollard for throwing a fire extinguisher from the roof of a building.Mr McDonnell criticised a 32-month sentence handed down to Ed Woollard for throwing a fire extinguisher from the roof of a building.
Mr Corbyn said: "I think the point John was making is that was at the end of a student demonstration and this person threw a fire extinguisher from a roof - which was a stupid, absolutely wrong thing to do, I think that and I think John does as well.Mr Corbyn said: "I think the point John was making is that was at the end of a student demonstration and this person threw a fire extinguisher from a roof - which was a stupid, absolutely wrong thing to do, I think that and I think John does as well.
"I think the sentence he got was possibly disproportionate to the crime he committed and I think that is the fundamental point about it.""I think the sentence he got was possibly disproportionate to the crime he committed and I think that is the fundamental point about it."
The announcement on policy-making is to be made by Angela Eagle, the current chair of Labour's Policy Forum, and would be the first official step to a way of opening up politics.
The party will then use the review to make a decision on how to reform the system.
Mr Watson said on Saturday he believed Mr Corbyn would lead Labour for 10 years.
Labour's former interim leader Harriet Harman, meanwhile, highlighted the current lack of top jobs for women in the party.Labour's former interim leader Harriet Harman, meanwhile, highlighted the current lack of top jobs for women in the party.
In a speech to Labour's women's conference on Saturday, Ms Harman said "evidently we still have further to go to reach equality".In a speech to Labour's women's conference on Saturday, Ms Harman said "evidently we still have further to go to reach equality".
Mr Corbyn was criticised for not appointing women to the top jobs in his shadow cabinet, but he reiterated he had met his pledge to have a majority of female members. Mr Corbyn said he had met his pledge to have a majority of female members in his cabinet.