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| Ken Livingstone sidelined from Labour's defence policy review | Ken Livingstone sidelined from Labour's defence policy review |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Ken Livingstone has been sidelined from Labour’s defence review looking at whether to drop support for Trident, as the party published plans to release an interim report by June. | Ken Livingstone has been sidelined from Labour’s defence review looking at whether to drop support for Trident, as the party published plans to release an interim report by June. |
| Emily Thornberry, the shadow defence secretary who opposes the renewal of Britain’s nuclear deterrent, has been put in ultimate charge of the project, though Livingstone remains a co-convenor of Labour’s defence policy commission. | |
| Related: Labour’s debate about Trident is important … and good-natured | John McTernan | Related: Labour’s debate about Trident is important … and good-natured | John McTernan |
| Publishing her terms of reference, the shadow cabinet minister said she would consult widely, encouraging the widest possible participation of party members and the public, before releasing initial conclusions in six months. | |
| This means that Labour will be without a firm policy if David Cameron decides to call a parliamentary vote on renewing the UK’s nuclear submarines this spring – potentially as early as March. | This means that Labour will be without a firm policy if David Cameron decides to call a parliamentary vote on renewing the UK’s nuclear submarines this spring – potentially as early as March. |
| Livingstone, the former London mayor and an ally of the party leader, Jeremy Corbyn, had presented himself as co-author of the review and earlier this week claimed it was being speeded up in the hope of having a conclusion on Trident by the time of the vote. | Livingstone, the former London mayor and an ally of the party leader, Jeremy Corbyn, had presented himself as co-author of the review and earlier this week claimed it was being speeded up in the hope of having a conclusion on Trident by the time of the vote. |
| “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.” | “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.” |
| However, Thornberry published her terms of reference for the consultation on Friday without mentioning Livingstone in the press release or document. | However, Thornberry published her terms of reference for the consultation on Friday without mentioning Livingstone in the press release or document. |
| It appears Livingstone, who opposes Trident renewal, is no longer so important to the review after Corbyn conducted his reshuffle at the beginning of the year. | It appears Livingstone, who opposes Trident renewal, is no longer so important to the review after Corbyn conducted his reshuffle at the beginning of the year. |
| This replaced Maria Eagle, who is pro-Trident, as shadow defence secretary, with Thornberry, who shares her leader’s opposition to replacing the nuclear weapons. | This replaced Maria Eagle, who is pro-Trident, as shadow defence secretary, with Thornberry, who shares her leader’s opposition to replacing the nuclear weapons. |
| The terms of the review state that Thornberry will consider a whole range of defence challenges, including the future of the Trident nuclear weapons programme. | The terms of the review state that Thornberry will consider a whole range of defence challenges, including the future of the Trident nuclear weapons programme. |
| There is no time limit on its conclusions but initial contributions are invited before the end of April and Thornberry is aiming to publish an interim report in June. This will then be presented to the national policy forum and annual conference for agreement. | There is no time limit on its conclusions but initial contributions are invited before the end of April and Thornberry is aiming to publish an interim report in June. This will then be presented to the national policy forum and annual conference for agreement. |
| Given that timetable, it is looking increasingly likely that Corbyn will have to call a free vote on the issue as most of his shadow cabinet do not share his opposition to renewal of Trident. | Given that timetable, it is looking increasingly likely that Corbyn will have to call a free vote on the issue as most of his shadow cabinet do not share his opposition to renewal of Trident. |
| Although the party’s conference confirmed its pro-Trident position last year, Corbyn may argue the policy is no longer valid because it is now officially up for review; he can also point to his mandate from the membership after standing on an anti-nuclear weapons platform during the leadership contest. | Although the party’s conference confirmed its pro-Trident position last year, Corbyn may argue the policy is no longer valid because it is now officially up for review; he can also point to his mandate from the membership after standing on an anti-nuclear weapons platform during the leadership contest. |
| Related: Renew Trident? It’d make more sense to put Dad’s Army on the case | Simon Jenkins | |
| Launching the review, Thornberry said it was a “great privilege to be leading Labour’s defence review, at Jeremy Corbyn’s request”. | Launching the review, Thornberry said it was a “great privilege to be leading Labour’s defence review, at Jeremy Corbyn’s request”. |
| “This will be a comprehensive review of Britain’s defence challenges and options for the 21st century. It will be open, transparent and inclusive, and its conclusions will be based on the evidence,” she said. | “This will be a comprehensive review of Britain’s defence challenges and options for the 21st century. It will be open, transparent and inclusive, and its conclusions will be based on the evidence,” she said. |
| “We will encourage the widest possible participation of Labour party members and affiliates, as well as defence specialists, NGOs and the armed forces. At every stage of the process, we will give full scope to the wide range of views on this subject in an atmosphere of mutual respect and trust.” | “We will encourage the widest possible participation of Labour party members and affiliates, as well as defence specialists, NGOs and the armed forces. At every stage of the process, we will give full scope to the wide range of views on this subject in an atmosphere of mutual respect and trust.” |
| Livingstone has repeatedly infuriated Labour MPs with his interventions on defence since he took his role on the policy commission. | Livingstone has repeatedly infuriated Labour MPs with his interventions on defence since he took his role on the policy commission. |
| Earlier this year, he caused alarm by saying the UK’s membership of Nato would be looked at by the policy review, and had to apologise after suggesting former shadow defence minister Kevan Jones needed “psychiatric help” for questioning his role on the review. | Earlier this year, he caused alarm by saying the UK’s membership of Nato would be looked at by the policy review, and had to apologise after suggesting former shadow defence minister Kevan Jones needed “psychiatric help” for questioning his role on the review. |
| It is understood Corbyn had been pressed by senior colleagues to remove Livingstone from the review or downgrade his role. | It is understood Corbyn had been pressed by senior colleagues to remove Livingstone from the review or downgrade his role. |