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| Labour's Trident policy review to be fast-tracked before MPs vote | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Labour’s internal battle over whether to drop support for the UK’s Trident nuclear submarines could come to a head within weeks, after Ken Livingstone confirmed the review of policy was being fast-tracked. | |
| Livingstone, who is co-chairing a review of defence policy, said the party was working on a quicker recommendation on Trident in the hope it can be concluded within eight to 10 weeks – in time for a parliamentary vote on whether to back renewal of the submarines. | Livingstone, who is co-chairing a review of defence policy, said the party was working on a quicker recommendation on Trident in the hope it can be concluded within eight to 10 weeks – in time for a parliamentary vote on whether to back renewal of the submarines. |
| “We will desperately try and do it as rapidly as possible,” he told the BBC’s Newsnight. “So we will focus on the Trident issue ahead of the rest of the defence review ... With a bit of luck that can be done in eight to 10 weeks. It will take a lot of work for me and Emily [Thornberry] but that’s good.” | “We will desperately try and do it as rapidly as possible,” he told the BBC’s Newsnight. “So we will focus on the Trident issue ahead of the rest of the defence review ... With a bit of luck that can be done in eight to 10 weeks. It will take a lot of work for me and Emily [Thornberry] but that’s good.” |
| The review is widely expected to recommend dropping support for nuclear submarines after Livingstone’s pro-Trident co-chair, Maria Eagle, was replaced by Thornberry, who shares the Labour leader’s view on opposing the nuclear weapons programme. | The review is widely expected to recommend dropping support for nuclear submarines after Livingstone’s pro-Trident co-chair, Maria Eagle, was replaced by Thornberry, who shares the Labour leader’s view on opposing the nuclear weapons programme. |
| Jeremy Corbyn is likely to take the recommendations of the policy review, along with the mandate from his membership, to argue for opposition to Trident but he faces some obstacles before he can change the party’s policy. | Jeremy Corbyn is likely to take the recommendations of the policy review, along with the mandate from his membership, to argue for opposition to Trident but he faces some obstacles before he can change the party’s policy. |
| The majority of the shadow cabinet and trade unions, including Unite and the GMB, are in favour of replacing the programme, largely because so many jobs depend on construction of the new nuclear submarines, and the party’s conference has backed the policy. | |
| Iain McNicol, the party’s general secretary, also told Labour MPs this week that Corbyn could not change the policy-making rules of the party, to ensure the membership are consulted, without getting permission from the autumn conference. | Iain McNicol, the party’s general secretary, also told Labour MPs this week that Corbyn could not change the policy-making rules of the party, to ensure the membership are consulted, without getting permission from the autumn conference. |
| Related: GMB boss warns Corbyn not to risk defence jobs with Trident plans | Related: GMB boss warns Corbyn not to risk defence jobs with Trident plans |
| However, Livingstone’s comments on the BBC’s Newsnight suggest that Corbyn has not given up on changing the party’s policy before David Cameron calls a vote on the issue this spring or summer. Some shadow cabinet ministers have indicated that they could resign over the issue, while a number of Labour backbenchers are vocally protesting against a change in policy. | However, Livingstone’s comments on the BBC’s Newsnight suggest that Corbyn has not given up on changing the party’s policy before David Cameron calls a vote on the issue this spring or summer. Some shadow cabinet ministers have indicated that they could resign over the issue, while a number of Labour backbenchers are vocally protesting against a change in policy. |
| Kevan Jones, who resigned as shadow defence minister when Eagle was moved, told PoliticsHome: “I find it remarkable that he is suggesting this – if it had been Tony Blair or Gordon Brown talking about changing party policy like this he would be arguing it was undemocratic.” | Kevan Jones, who resigned as shadow defence minister when Eagle was moved, told PoliticsHome: “I find it remarkable that he is suggesting this – if it had been Tony Blair or Gordon Brown talking about changing party policy like this he would be arguing it was undemocratic.” |
| Sir Paul Kenny, leader of the GMB, also warned Corbyn on Monday that his union would fight to ensure that the Labour party maintained its support for the Trident nuclear weapons programme. | Sir Paul Kenny, leader of the GMB, also warned Corbyn on Monday that his union would fight to ensure that the Labour party maintained its support for the Trident nuclear weapons programme. |
| Kenny said Corbyn had “another shock coming” if he tried to change party rules to introduce a policy of unilateral nuclear disarmament. The union leader said rules that decreed the Labour conference had the ultimate say over party policy must be followed. | Kenny said Corbyn had “another shock coming” if he tried to change party rules to introduce a policy of unilateral nuclear disarmament. The union leader said rules that decreed the Labour conference had the ultimate say over party policy must be followed. |
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