This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-34369166

The article has changed 20 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 12 Version 13
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 the UK's Trident nuclear weapons.Jeremy Corbyn has admitted he faces a battle to persuade his shadow cabinet to back him on scrapping the UK's Trident nuclear weapons.
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.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.
His deputy Tom Watson said he hoped to persuade Mr Corbyn to change his view.His deputy Tom Watson said he hoped to persuade Mr Corbyn to change his view.
Mr Corbyn 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, Mr Watson 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."
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."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".He added that in "modern politics... you simply cannot have homogeneous positions where 200 people follow a line on everything".
Lord Falconer told BBC Radio 4's The World This Weekend it was "unlikely" he could be persuaded to change his mind on Trident, but did believe it was possible to reach a position on the issue that the party could "coalesce around".
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.
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'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."
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.
Angela Eagle, chair of Labour's National Policy Forum, told the conference the party was launching a review of how it makes its policies.Angela Eagle, chair of Labour's National Policy Forum, told the conference the party was launching a review of how it makes its policies.
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".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".
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."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."
'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 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."
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 said he had met his pledge to have a majority of female members in his cabinet.Mr Corbyn said he had met his pledge to have a majority of female members in his cabinet.