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CND criticises Labour's Clive Lewis over Trident Labour's Clive Lewis plays down Trident speech row
(about 2 hours later)
Anti-nuclear campaigners have attacked Labour's defence spokesman for his comments about the UK's missile system. Labour's shadow defence secretary has played down reports of a clash over last-minute alterations to his party conference speech.
In his conference speech, Clive Lewis said despite his scepticism about renewing Trident, he was "clear" that it was Labour policy to do so. Clive Lewis said he was "really pleased" with the speech, adding there was "nothing to see here".
In response, the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament accused Mr Lewis of abandoning the leadership's bid to change party policy on the issue. He is believed to have been prevented from committing to Labour policy to renew the UK's nuclear weapons system.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is a vice-president of CND. A senior Labour source confirmed Mr Lewis was upset at late changes to his speech on a number of defence issues.
He has said he hopes to change Labour's official policy of backing the renewal of Trident, and a review is considering the party's position on the subject. But the source said it was normal for work to be done on a speech until a late stage and added: "Clive found it a little frustrating but he's OK with it now."
Renewal would involve the manufacture of four replacement submarines at a current estimated cost of £31bn. Labour's official policy is to support renewing the Trident system, but leader Jeremy Corbyn - a longstanding CND campaigner - wants to change the party's position and launched a defence review to examine the issue.
During his speech, Mr Lewis told delegates he was sceptical about renewing the Trident nuclear missile system, but was "clear" that it was Labour policy to do so.
BBC chief political correspondent Vicki Young said Mr Lewis had wanted to go further and say he was willing to stick with the official policy, but a line from his speech was taken out at the last minute by Mr Corbyn's office.
She added that she was told Mr Lewis swore and threw his mobile phone in frustration when he came off stage.
Renewing Trident would involve the manufacture of four replacement submarines at a current estimated cost of £31bn.
The issue caused a split in Labour when MPs voted in favour of renewal in July.The issue caused a split in Labour when MPs voted in favour of renewal in July.
Addressing Labour conference in Liverpool, Mr Lewis said: "There are defence issues on which we are not united. This should not surprise us though. The security of our country - the first duty of any government - demands nothing less than the most rigorous of examination and debate.Addressing Labour conference in Liverpool, Mr Lewis said: "There are defence issues on which we are not united. This should not surprise us though. The security of our country - the first duty of any government - demands nothing less than the most rigorous of examination and debate.
"Friends, we know that nuclear weapons are one of those issues. As you know, I am sceptical about Trident renewal, as are many here. But I am clear that our party has a policy for Trident renewal.""Friends, we know that nuclear weapons are one of those issues. As you know, I am sceptical about Trident renewal, as are many here. But I am clear that our party has a policy for Trident renewal."
He went on to say Labour would take steps to make a nuclear-free world a reality.He went on to say Labour would take steps to make a nuclear-free world a reality.
But his speech prompted an angry reaction from CND general secretary Kate Hudson, who accused him of a "U-turn" and said Labour was now "supporting nuclear rearmament". Despite the change in wording, his speech prompted an angry reaction from CND general secretary Kate Hudson, who accused him of a "U-turn" and said Labour was now "supporting nuclear rearmament".
"Lewis has clearly signalled that the Labour leadership will not seek to change Labour policy and appears to have abandoned its defence review conducted extensively over the past year," she said."Lewis has clearly signalled that the Labour leadership will not seek to change Labour policy and appears to have abandoned its defence review conducted extensively over the past year," she said.
"The majority of Labour members oppose Trident replacement, so where is the democracy in that?""The majority of Labour members oppose Trident replacement, so where is the democracy in that?"
She added: "There is enormous opposition to Trident replacement within the Labour Party and there will be huge disappointment at this U-turn by Clive Lewis."She added: "There is enormous opposition to Trident replacement within the Labour Party and there will be huge disappointment at this U-turn by Clive Lewis."
Mr Lewis also said Prime Minister Theresa May used Trident "not as a military weapon aimed at deterring enemies overseas - but as a political weapon aimed at her party's opposition at home".Mr Lewis also said Prime Minister Theresa May used Trident "not as a military weapon aimed at deterring enemies overseas - but as a political weapon aimed at her party's opposition at home".
Asked about a report in the Huffington Post that Mr Corbyn's office had asked him to remove a line about not planning to unpick Labour's policy, Mr Lewis told the Press Association: "All speeches have amendments and changes. Where it starts out and where it ends up is always going to be a process of change."