Fallon says Labour in ‘chaos’ over defence policy

Labour was accused on Monday of being in “chaos” on defence policy, after the party’s election coordinator appeared to override Jeremy Corbyn by insisting that the party would renew Britain’s Trident nuclear deterrent.

Mr Corbyn said on Sunday that nuclear weapons were “a disaster”, saying that Labour would conduct a comprehensive defence review if it won the election on June 8.

But Andrew Gwynne, Labour’s campaign coordinator, said on Monday that renewing Trident would “absolutely be in the manifesto” and the party was committed to a credible nuclear deterrent.

“Jeremy knows that Trident is Labour party policy,” Mr Gwynne told ITV’s Good Morning Britain. “Jeremy has set out his views on defence and that is absolutely that we are committed to making sure that Britain is well defended.”

Michael Fallon, defence secretary, said Labour was in “chaos” on the subject. “We’re entirely unsure what would happen to our nuclear deterrent,” he said.

Sir Michael said it was also “staggering” that Mr Corbyn appeared uncertain about whether he would, as prime minister, authorise a drone strike to kill the Isis leadership.

On Sunday, Amber Rudd, the home secretary, said a Labour government would “refuse to strike against terrorists, dismantle our nuclear defences and fail to control our borders”.

Earlier in the week Mr Corbyn demurred when asked if Labour would offer a second Brexit referendum in its manifesto, leading to a statement four hours later that this would not be party policy.