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Trident: armed forces chief will not be disciplined over Corbyn remarks Trident: military chief will not be disciplined over Corbyn remarks
(about 4 hours later)
Downing Street has indicated that the head of the armed forces will not face disciplinary action after he said Jeremy Corbyn’s policy on Trident would undermine the credibility of Britain’s nuclear deterrent. Ministers are backing the head of the armed forces after he was accused of straying too far into politics by saying Jeremy Corbyn’s policy on Trident would undermine the credibility of Britain’s nuclear deterrent.
The prime minister’s official spokeswoman said it was “reasonable” for General Sir Nicholas Houghton, as the government’s senior military adviser, to speak publicly on the issue. Corbyn is expected to write to Michael Fallon, the defence secretary, asking him to rein in the chief of defence staff, arguing his comment is an unacceptable breach of the principle that the military do not interfere in politics.
Corbyn has written to the defence secretary, Michael Fallon, asking him to rein in the chief of defence staff. The Labour leader regards Houghton’s comment as an unacceptable breach of the principle that the military do not interfere in politics. But the prime minister’s official spokeswoman said it was “reasonable” for General Sir Nicholas Houghton, as the government’s senior military adviser, to speak publicly on the issue.
But Cameron’s spokeswoman said: “The chief of the armed forces … made a point about the credibility of the deterrent. He made clear he wasn’t talking about a personal thing. Cameron’s spokeswoman said: “The chief of the armed forces … made a point about the credibility of the deterrent. He made clear he wasn’t talking about a personal thing.
“He was asked about the deterrent. He made a point about the credibility of the deterrent. And as the principal military adviser to the government, it’s reasonable for the chief of defence staff to talk about how we maintain the credibility of one of the most important tools in our armoury.” “He was asked about the deterrent. And as the principal military adviser to the government, it’s reasonable for the chief of the defence staff to talk about how we maintain the credibility of one of the most important tools in our armoury.”
The Ministry of Defence has not yet received a letter from Corbyn but it is understood that Fallon is content that Houghton’s comments were proportionate, appropriate and not in breach of the principle of political neutrality.
The row erupted on Remembrance Sunday, hours after Corbyn and Houghton laid wreaths in memory of Britain’s war dead at the Cenotaph in Whitehall. Corbyn has previously said he would never authorise the use of Trident. Houghton said on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show that the Labour leader’s stance defeated the purpose of the nuclear deterrent. “It would worry me if that thought was translated into power,” he said.The row erupted on Remembrance Sunday, hours after Corbyn and Houghton laid wreaths in memory of Britain’s war dead at the Cenotaph in Whitehall. Corbyn has previously said he would never authorise the use of Trident. Houghton said on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show that the Labour leader’s stance defeated the purpose of the nuclear deterrent. “It would worry me if that thought was translated into power,” he said.
On Monday the former first sea lord Alan West, said it was highly likely he would resign the Labour whip if the party adopted a policy of unilateral nuclear disarmament, saying the deterrent was essential to keep Britain safe. On Monday, the former first sea lord Alan West, said it was highly likely he would resign the Labour whip if the party adopted a policy of unilateral nuclear disarmament, saying the deterrent was essential to keep Britain safe.
But Lord West criticised Houghton for his comments. West agreed that Houghton had been lured into saying things he should not have expressed, saying: “Maybe he strayed a little further than he should have done.”But Lord West criticised Houghton for his comments. West agreed that Houghton had been lured into saying things he should not have expressed, saying: “Maybe he strayed a little further than he should have done.”
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, West said: “We [military figures] tend to say things as we see rather than spinning them or being clever with our words. He was trying to be careful but he got bluffed into saying a little bit more than he should have done.”Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, West said: “We [military figures] tend to say things as we see rather than spinning them or being clever with our words. He was trying to be careful but he got bluffed into saying a little bit more than he should have done.”
The peer said no action was needed against Houghton other than to advise him to “be careful”. He said Houghton had been naive, walking into answering a question he should not have answered, but insisted the issue had been overblown.The peer said no action was needed against Houghton other than to advise him to “be careful”. He said Houghton had been naive, walking into answering a question he should not have answered, but insisted the issue had been overblown.
Corbyn found an unexpected ally in the Conservative MEP Daniel Hannan, who tweeted:Corbyn found an unexpected ally in the Conservative MEP Daniel Hannan, who tweeted:
Serving generals shouldn't ever - ever - involve themselves in politics. It's something that distinguishes Britain from Burma.Serving generals shouldn't ever - ever - involve themselves in politics. It's something that distinguishes Britain from Burma.
On Sunday Nigel Farage said Corbyn should have bowed more deeply at the Cenotaph. The Sun newspaper also claimed Corbyn had insulted the war dead by failing to bow more deeply when he laid his wreath. On Sunday, the Ukip leader Nigel Farage said Corbyn should have bowed more deeply at the Cenotaph. The Sun newspaper claimed Corbyn had insulted the war dead by failing to bow more deeply when he laid his wreath.
Farage said Corbyn’s behaviour was not acceptable. The Ukip leader told LBC: “Every piece of his body language showed he did not want to be there. If you are going to turn up, you play the game. If you won’t, don’t bother to turn up.” Farage told LBC radio that Corbyn’s behaviour was not acceptable: “Every piece of his body language showed he did not want to be there. If you are going to turn up, you play the game. If you won’t, don’t bother to turn up.”
Ukip is fighting Labour in the Oldham West and Royton byelection in December and has been doing all it can to portray Corbyn as unpatriotic.Ukip is fighting Labour in the Oldham West and Royton byelection in December and has been doing all it can to portray Corbyn as unpatriotic.
Corbyn turned up at the Cenotaph in a dark suit and wearing a red poppy, and stayed behind after the service to talk to former servicemen informally rather than attending a formal lunch. Corbyn turned up at the Cenotaph in a dark suit and wearing a red poppy and stayed behind after the service to talk to former servicemen informally rather than attending a formal lunch.
Writing in the Daily Telegraph, the paper’s former editor Charles Moore refused to join the criticism, saying: “There was nothing wrong with his slight bow, he wore unobjectionable clothes, a red poppy and a respectful expression.” Writing in the Daily Telegraph, the paper’s former editor Charles Moore refused to join in the criticism, saying: “There was nothing wrong with his slight bow, he wore unobjectionable clothes, a red poppy and a respectful expression.”
Corbyn’s views are close to pacifist, but he has defended the second world war as a fight against fascism. Corbyn’s views are close to pacifism, but he has defended the second world war as a fight against fascism.