Stephen Crabb adds to Jeremy Corbyn anti-nuclear row

Image source, MOD/Crown Copyright

Jeremy Corbyn is effectively ruling out Britain's last line of defence with his anti-nuclear stance, Welsh Secretary Stephen Crabb has said.

The Conservative MP told 大象传媒 One's Question Time it was the first duty of any prime minister to protect the public and accused the Labour leader of failing "massively" in that test.

Mr Corbyn has also been criticised within his own ranks.

But Aberavon MP Stephen Kinnock defended his leader.

Preseli Pembrokeshire MP Mr Crabb told the panel: "As much as we might want it to be the case, unfortunately we're not living in a more peaceful, more, simple less complicated world, we're living in a world where the threats are increasing and becoming more challenging."

"I think for the leader of the opposition - somebody who wants to be prime minister - to rule out using any of these cornerstones of our national defence [including British Army and Nato] to protect and enhance the security of our country - that's a deeply flawed position for the Labour party."

Mr Kinnock said Labour was carrying out a review of its defence policies.

"Jeremy came forward with his view and that's being fed into the review," he said.

"It doesn't stop him from being prime minister because the opinion of this country is split on it.

"It may well be that enough people vote for him on the basis of that policy in our manifesto if that is the policy that is decided on by the Labour Party.

"My personal view is that we need to have a nuclear deterrent and I will be arguing that point very forcefully within the Labour Party."

However Mr Crabb hit back saying, someone needed to take a decision.

He added: "That's what leadership is. It's all very well for Stephen Kinnock to say a party review and talk about his leader feeding in his personal view as if he's just one person among equals in the Labour party.

"He is the leader. It's deeply problematic for the Labour party and for the country, I would argue. He's effectively ruling out what would be Britain's last line of defence if we faced an attack on this country from a nation with nuclear weapons."

Mr Kinnock responded saying "one of the most important elements of leadership is compromise".

'Incompetent'

There were also exchanges over the Welsh Labour administration's record in Wales.

Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood said her party's aim was to replace a "tired and incompetent government" in the 2016 assembly election.

She was criticised by Mr Crabb for ruling out cooperation with the Conservatives to offer an alternative to Labour.

He said: "We should look at all possible options".