Tri-Service

Defence Review Will Not Consider Britain Leaving NATO

Labour has denied that its review of defence policy will look at the question of whether Britain should withdraw from Nato.

The statement came after the review's co-chairman Ken Livingstone - a close ally of leader Jeremy Corbyn - suggested that membership of the Western defence alliance could be on the table.

Mr Livingstone said his personal view was that, following the end of the Cold War, "it doesn't matter whether you are in Nato or not, terribly much".

But a Labour spokeswoman said: "The terms of reference of the defence review are still to be agreed but will not include looking at our membership of Nato."

UK service personnel took part in NATO's largest joint exercise in over a decade.

The former London mayor told BBC2's Daily Politics that he hoped the review would develop a settled Labour position on the renewal of the Trident nuclear deterrent before the Prime Minister calls a vote in the House of Commons, but said it could last until the summer.

With new shadow defence secretary Emily Thornberry - rather than the pro-Trident Maria Eagle - due to co-chair the review with Mr Livingstone, it is widely expected to endorse Mr Corbyn's opposition to the £25 billion programme for four new submarines.

But Mr Livingstone insisted he was keeping an open mind on options including extending the life of existing subs.

"If someone can demonstrate to me that it is essential for our defence to spend £41 billion on four submarines, I can be persuaded," he said.

But he said nuclear weapons "didn't stop the Argentinians invading the Falkland Islands" and their use in a first strike against Russia would be a "suicide mission".

He questioned their use as a deterrent, as "no one seriously believes Russia is going to attack Britain". Britain would anyway remain under the American nuclear umbrella, even if it disarmed, he suggested.

Asked whether the Labour review will considering quitting Nato, Mr Livingstone said: "That's one of the things it will look at. There will be many people wanting to do that.

"I don't think it's a particularly big issue. In the Cold War, it was. It isn't now. Russia is not planning to invade the West.

"There will be people making these suggestions. We are looking at the whole defence review. My main view on this is it doesn't matter whether you are in Nato or not, terribly much, because the Cold War is over.

"The question is, if you are going to stay in Nato, what is its role going to be? Is it going to be invading more countries in the Middle East? I'm not in favour of that."

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."

The Prime Minister's official spokeswoman said: "The Prime Minister has been very clear of the importance of Nato, that it is the bedrock of our collective security."