Jeremy Corbyn under fire as army chiefs attack anti-Trident stance
AN ATTACK by Britain’s Armed Forces boss on Jeremy Corbyn’s antinuclear stance has provoked an angry response from the Labour leader.
Jeremy Corbyn has come under-fire from Army officials for his anti-Trident stance
Chief of the Defence Staff General Sir Nicholas Houghton said yesterday he would be “worried” if Mr Corbyn became Prime Minister after he vowed never to press the nuclear button.
Lifelong anti-nuclear campaigner Mr Corbyn hit back in a statement: “It is a matter of serious concern that the Chief of the Defence Staff has today intervened directly in issues of political dispute.
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Jeremy Corbyn attending the Remembrance Sunday ceremony
It is essential in a democracy that the military remains political neutral at all times
“It is essential in a democracy that the military remains political neutral at all times. By publicly taking sides in political arguments, Sir Nicholas Houghton has clearly breached that constitutional principle.”
Mr Corbyn supports of getting rid of Britain’s nuclear arsenal even if other countries do not.
Unlike many in his party he opposes renewing Trident and has ordered a review of Labour’s official policy supporting it.
In September he said he would never authorise the use of nuclear weapons if he was Prime Minister.
Sir Nicholas told BBC1’s Andrew Marr show: “It would worry me if that thought was translated into power.
Jeremy Corbyn at a remembrance service in his constituency
“When people say they’re never going to use the deterrent, I say: you use the deterrent every second of every minute of every day.
“You don’t have to use it because you effectively deter. Most of the politicians I know understand that.”
However, Mr Corbyn told reporters at a wreath-laying ceremony in his Islington constituency: “Politicians are elected to Parliament in order to take political decisions. I don’t think it is appropriate for serving officers to make political comments.”
Army official Nicholas Houghton said he would be 'worried' if Corbyn were Prime Minister
The Government was not immune to attack either.
Sir Nicholas said Britain was “to an extent letting our allies down” by not joining the bombing of Islamic State jihadists in Syria.