‘Nukes didn’t help United States of America on 9/11’: Corbyn rules out ever firing Trident

Warheads carried on Britain’s nuclear submarines are eight times more powerful than the atomic bombs used in 1945.

He said: “As others are losing their heads and lurching off, we will be absolutely in the common ground, delivering for the working people of Britain“. “There’s no decision required until probably next summer”.

Now Corbyn has ignited more controversy by speaking out on the future of the UK’s nuclear weapons program.

Mr Corbyn – a long standing campaigner for nuclear disarmament – infuriated senior shadow cabinet colleagues after he said in a BBC radio interview that he would not be prepared to authorise the use of the UK’s Trident deterrent if he was prime minister. The Labour chief attracted sharp criticism on Wednesday after he said he would never use nuclear weapons.

Mr Corbyn said: “Whilst there was good stuff in our manifesto undoubtedly, the problem was that overall we were looking at cuts in central government expenditure and they would be particularly damaging to all parts of the United Kingdom”. The party’s opposition to renewing Trident was thought to be an important factor in winning over the Scottish electorate.

He added any detrimental impact on the nation’s overall defence services could also have a knock-on effect in Portsmouth, leaving the city in a “bad situation”.

Following Mr Corbyn’s speech at the Labour’s party conference on Tuesday, market research company Ipsos MORI ran two discussion groups with potential voters in Croydon Central – a target seat for Labour. They would have hoped to delay it for months rather than days.

Mr Corbyn’s plans to build 100,000 new council and association homes – announced at the Labour Party conference earlier this week – also drew the peer’s ire.

The address – which was warmly received in the conference hall – appeared to borrow elements from a freelance writer who worked for Labour minister Denis Healey between 1981 and 1983.

Former Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont, resigned in December 2014 saying the Scottish party was being treated as a “branch office”. “People wanted change after the election and Jeremy offered them a real alternative and a different approach”, something he certainly will be doing after his speech spoke of “challenging austerity, creating a kinder politics and a caring society”.

Don’t believe all the nasty stuff about me.

Responding to the remarks, Dartford Labour leader Cllr Hawkes said: “It is ridiculous, unhelpful and scaremongering by the MP and he should be focusing on the real issues that are being felt in Dartford, such as the lack of school places”.