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07 Jan 2016

 

Labour slaps down Ken Livingstone after he suggests the defence review will consider Britain leaving Nato

By Laura Hughes, and Ben Farmer

 

Former Mayor of London and close ally of Jeremy Corbyn leading party's defence review said it would look at whether UK should withdraw from pact

 

Ken Livingstone, the man in charge of Labour's defence review, has been slapped down by Labour after he said the party will look at whether the UK should leave Nato.

Mr Livingstone, a close ally of Jeremy Corbyn, said that "one of the things we will look at" is if Britain should withdraw from the pact with America, Germany and France.

But just an hour after Mr Livingstone's comments, a Labour spokeswoman said: "The terms of the defence review are still to be agreed but will not look at our membership of Nato."

 

It comes a day after Mr Corbyn faced anger after appointing Emily Thornberry as his shadow defence secretary.

Ms Thornberry has questioned the need for the Trident nuclear deterrent and has been labeled "anti-armed forces" after it emerged she had received £45,000 worth of donations from a law firm that represented Iraqis who made false claims about British soldiers.

Speaking to the BBC's Daily Politics programme on Thursday, Mr Livingstone for the first time confirmed that Labour's defence review will consider whether to remain a member of Nato, which David Cameron has said is essential to Britain's national security.

 

On Britain leaving Nato, Mr Livingstone said: "There will be many people who want to do that. I don't think it's a particularly big issue because in the cold war it was, it isn’t now."

He added: "My main view on this is that it doesn't really matter whether you're in Nato or not terribly much because the cold war is over.

"If we're to stay in Nato, the question is what's its role. Invading more countries in the Middle East? I'm not in favour of that."

 

General Sir Michael Jackson, the former head of the British Army who also commanded Nato's rapid reaction force, said it would be a mistake to believe Britain no longer needed the Nato alliance.

He said: "It's an alliance that has served us for over half a century and I for one am very much in favour of it.

"To think we now live in a stable peaceful world and do not need these alliances would to my mind be a mistake."

 

Lord Robertson, the former Labour Defence Secretary and Nato chief, said the idea was "ludicrous and irresponsible".

He said: "He must have been misquoted. The very idea is ludicrous and irresponsible."

Mr Livingstone, the former Mayor of London, also questioned the need for the Trident nuclear deterrent.

He said: "Shall we spend £41bn on four new submarines? I just don't think that that's the best use of money in terms of defending ourselves."

His comments will anger moderate Labour MPs who fear Mr Corbyn in trying to change party's policy on defence.

 

During the Labour leadership contest, Mr Corbyn backtracked on his calls for Britain to leave Nato.

Faced with criticism, he admitted there was not an "appetite'" among the public to leave the alliance and said he would instead argue for Nato to "restrict its role."

During a live leadership debate in August he was also attacked by leadership rivals after appearing to blame Nato for prompting Russian aggression against Ukraine.

When challenged by Andy Burnham on whether he would pull out of Nato, Mr Corbyn said he would have a "serious debate about the powers of Nato,” but abandoned previous calls for total withdrawal.

Defence minister Penny Mordaunt said: "It's deeply worrying that the Labour Party believes Britain should leave Nato - an organisation that helps keep our country safe in an increasingly dangerous world.

"This is another reminder why Labour are a threat to our national security."

 

How Labour critics hope Jeremy Corbyn could fall in 18 months

 

Early 2016 A vote on the renewal of Trident exposes deep divisions in the party over defence. Mr Corbyn's attempt to whip MPs  goes against promises made to his shadow cabinet ministers when they took up the posts. While a free vote is eventually agreed there are frontbench resignations over the saga. 

May 2016 Scottish Labour sinks to a dismal election defeat as SNP secures an increased majority in Holyrood elections, undermining the argument that Mr Corbyn's left-wing politics could trigger a comeback north of the border. Labour also loses English council seats and - possibly - the London Mayoral election. Critics argue Mr Corbyn's unelectability has been proved. 

Summer 2016 Mr Corbyn get a reprieve as political journalists turn their focus to the EU referendum battle. Splits within the Tories, spats between the campaign teams and polls predicting Brexit dominate ahead of an expected vote later in the year. 

Autumn 2016 The Tories reveal the initial conclusions of their boundary review, which will see the number of seats drop by 50 to 600 for the next election. Naming Labour MPs in the firing line forces concern about deselection to the forefront, with moderates fearing they will be overlooked for left-wing candidates. 

Spring 2017 As Mr Corbyn enters his third calendar year in charge there is no sign of a boost in the polls. Labour continues to trail far behind the Tories - defying hopes of a mid-term lull - while Mr Corbyn's personal polling fails to turn a corner. Shadow ministers make coded reference to their discontent own public.  

May 2017 After weeks of building pressure over 'make or break' council elections, Mr Corbyn's Labour fails to make a serious breakthrough - and even loses some key seats in the party's heartland. Leadership rivals go public with their frustration while privately gathering the 47 MP signatures needed to trigger a contest. Mr Corbyn stands again - but by now the membership base has change.  Everything is to play for.