Pic: Ken Livingstone
political reporter,London(wp/es):
Ken Livingstone was today downgraded in Labour’s nuclear defence review in a victory for shadow defence secretary Emily Thornberry and the trade union leaders.
Unveiling a change of approach, she made clear she would be calling the shots over whether to replace the Trident missile system.
“I go into this wanting to look a the evidence before making policy,” she said.
Ms Thornberry, the Islington South MP, is a backer of unilateral disarmament just like Mr Livingstone and Mr Corbyn.
But she eased tensions by stressing she would listen to all sides, adding: “I will not be afraid of asking some very hard questions.”
Former mayor Mr Livingstone upset the unions by suggesting a decision to scrap Labour’s backing for nuclear weapons defences could be rushed through in just eight or ten weeks.
He was widely seen to have been appointed to co-head a review by Jeremy Corbyn in a bid to steamroll a change of policy.
But union leaders like Unite’s Len McCluskey and the GMB’s Paul Kenny this week made clear they would fight to defend the jobs of defence workers.
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