Disagreement Over Labour's Stance On Trident

Two members of the shadow cabinet have disagreed over Labour's stance on Trident.

Emily Thornberry, the shadow Foreign Secretary, appeared on BBC2's Newsnight and suggested that support for Trident could not be guaranteed in a planned defence review if the Labour party wins power.

However, Nia Griffith, the shadow Defence Secretary responded saying:

"With all due respect, Emily is not the shadow Defence Secretary. I am."

Labour's leadership has said Trident will be covered in a defence review if Jeremy Corbyn - a long-standing campaigner for nuclear disarmament - was in Number 10.

The policy set by party conference is to support Trident, but Ms Thornberry said she could not guarantee what the outcome of the review would be. 

She added:

"Overwhelmingly we need to make sure that our policy is up to date and meets 21st century threats and no one can disagree with that, surely?"

But Ms Griffith told Newsnight: "Nobody has raised the issue of removing the Trident nuclear deterrent from our manifesto." The review would consider military spending, not reopen the question of whether the Trident deterrent was needed. 

Ms Griffith was also backed by Labour's candidate, John Woodcock, for Barrow and Furness where the sub is being built. He described Ms Thorberry's comments as "unfortunate".

Mr Woodcock said that Trident renewal had already passed the point of no return.