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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Jeremy Corbyn: I would not use nuclear weapons | Jeremy Corbyn: I would not use nuclear weapons |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has said he would not use Britain's nuclear weapons if he were prime minister. | Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has said he would not use Britain's nuclear weapons if he were prime minister. |
| Speaking to the BBC the morning after his first conference speech as leader, he repeated his position that Trident should not be renewed. | Speaking to the BBC the morning after his first conference speech as leader, he repeated his position that Trident should not be renewed. |
| "We are not in the era of the Cold War any more; it finished a long time ago," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. | "We are not in the era of the Cold War any more; it finished a long time ago," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. |
| Asked if he would ever press the nuclear button if he was prime minister, Mr Corbyn said: "No." | Asked if he would ever press the nuclear button if he was prime minister, Mr Corbyn said: "No." |
| "I am opposed to the use of nuclear weapons. I am opposed to the holding of nuclear weapons. I want to see a nuclear-free world. I believe it is possible," he said. | "I am opposed to the use of nuclear weapons. I am opposed to the holding of nuclear weapons. I want to see a nuclear-free world. I believe it is possible," he said. |
| His comments were described as "not helpful" by shadow defence secretary Maria Eagle, who opposes scrapping Trident. | |
| However, he was backed by shadow chancellor John McDonnell who said it was "a moral issue". | |
| During his interview on Today, the Labour leader also told said he believed he could be prime minister. | |
| And he defended the lack of coverage of the deficit and immigration in his speech to Labour party conference, saying he was "setting out some general philosophical ideas" rather than policy details. | And he defended the lack of coverage of the deficit and immigration in his speech to Labour party conference, saying he was "setting out some general philosophical ideas" rather than policy details. |
| 'Nuclear-free world' | 'Nuclear-free world' |
| In his conference address on Tuesday, Mr Corbyn said his landslide leadership win gave a "mandate" for his views on disarmament of Britain's nuclear weapons. | In his conference address on Tuesday, Mr Corbyn said his landslide leadership win gave a "mandate" for his views on disarmament of Britain's nuclear weapons. |
| But a large number of his shadow cabinet, including defence secretary Maria Eagle, and many Labour MPs do not support his position. | But a large number of his shadow cabinet, including defence secretary Maria Eagle, and many Labour MPs do not support his position. |
| Labour is to hold a review of defence policy, which will include future nuclear capability. | Labour is to hold a review of defence policy, which will include future nuclear capability. |
| Analysis, by BBC political correspondent Ross Hawkins | Analysis, by BBC political correspondent Ross Hawkins |
| It did not take a debate, within Labour or the House of Commons. A few words on the Today programme did the trick. | It did not take a debate, within Labour or the House of Commons. A few words on the Today programme did the trick. |
| Should he get to Number 10, he said simply, he would not press the nuclear button. | Should he get to Number 10, he said simply, he would not press the nuclear button. |
| Think of it this way: Corbyn declared to Britain's potential enemies that with him in charge they could disregard a multi-billion pound weapon system. | Think of it this way: Corbyn declared to Britain's potential enemies that with him in charge they could disregard a multi-billion pound weapon system. |
| Or, perhaps, put it like this: a man with a lifetime commitment to scrapping Britain's deterrent promised not to kill untold thousands of innocent people if he had the opportunity. | Or, perhaps, put it like this: a man with a lifetime commitment to scrapping Britain's deterrent promised not to kill untold thousands of innocent people if he had the opportunity. |
| Many politicians choose not to be so frank. | Many politicians choose not to be so frank. |
| Read more from Ross | Read more from Ross |
| A guide to Trident and the debate about its replacement | A guide to Trident and the debate about its replacement |
| Is there such a thing as a nuclear button? | Is there such a thing as a nuclear button? |
| Mr Corbyn told Today: "I do not think we should be renewing Trident. I think we should be fulfilling our obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. | Mr Corbyn told Today: "I do not think we should be renewing Trident. I think we should be fulfilling our obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. |
| "I think we should be promoting an international nuclear weapons convention which would lead to a nuclear-free world." | "I think we should be promoting an international nuclear weapons convention which would lead to a nuclear-free world." |
| Spending "£100bn" on replacing Trident was misguided, he said, arguing that many in the military wanted the money to be spent on more "conventional" equipment and forces. | Spending "£100bn" on replacing Trident was misguided, he said, arguing that many in the military wanted the money to be spent on more "conventional" equipment and forces. |
| He also said the money could be used to protect the "high-skilled jobs" that make the Trident weaponry and vessels. | He also said the money could be used to protect the "high-skilled jobs" that make the Trident weaponry and vessels. |
| The Labour leader said there were five declared nuclear weapon states in the world and three others that had nuclear weapons. | The Labour leader said there were five declared nuclear weapon states in the world and three others that had nuclear weapons. |
| He added that 187 countries "don't feel the need to have a nuclear weapon to protect their security", and asked "why should those five need it themselves?". | He added that 187 countries "don't feel the need to have a nuclear weapon to protect their security", and asked "why should those five need it themselves?". |
| 'Not helpful' | |
| When pushed by Today presenter Sarah Montague on whether there would be any circumstances he would use the nuclear option, he said: "No." | When pushed by Today presenter Sarah Montague on whether there would be any circumstances he would use the nuclear option, he said: "No." |
| Mr Corbyn said he was aware of the different views among his shadow cabinet, but also pointed out a large numbers of supporters "were prepared to vote for me knowing full well what my position was on nuclear arms". | Mr Corbyn said he was aware of the different views among his shadow cabinet, but also pointed out a large numbers of supporters "were prepared to vote for me knowing full well what my position was on nuclear arms". |
| He rejected that the defence review was pointless given his position, saying "nuclear weapons are not the only issue in defence". | He rejected that the defence review was pointless given his position, saying "nuclear weapons are not the only issue in defence". |
| However, shadow defence secretary Maria Eagle told the BBC: "I'm surprised he answered the question in the way that he did", saying it "undermined to some degree" Labour's policy process. | |
| Labour's current policy was in favour of retaining a nuclear deterrent, she said, added: "I don't think that a potential prime minister answering a question like that, in the way in which he did, is helpful." | |
| Mr Corbyn's comments were endorsed by his shadow chancellor, Mr McDonnell who told the BBC: "I don't believe the use of nuclear weapons is morally or legally appropriate, therefore we have to accept that." | |
| He said the Labour was "just saying what he means and I agree with that". | |
| Trident is the UK's sea-based nuclear weapons system - made up of submarines, missiles and warheads. | Trident is the UK's sea-based nuclear weapons system - made up of submarines, missiles and warheads. |
| While the current generation will not begin to end their working lives until some time in the late 2020s, work on a replacement cannot be delayed because of the time it will take to complete. | While the current generation will not begin to end their working lives until some time in the late 2020s, work on a replacement cannot be delayed because of the time it will take to complete. |
| A decision on whether to renew Trident is due to be taken in 2016. | A decision on whether to renew Trident is due to be taken in 2016. |