nuclear-news

Gen Sir Nicholas Houghton told the BBC’s Andrew Marr that refusing to launch nuclear weapons would “seriously undermine” Britain’s “deterrent”.And he said he would be worried if such a view “translated into power”.

Mr Corbyn called on the defence secretary to “take action” against Sir Nicholas over his comments.

In a statement, the Labour leader said: “It is a matter of serious concern that the chief of the defence staff has today intervened directly in issues of political dispute.

“It is essential in a democracy that the military remains politically neutral at all times.

“By publicly taking sides in current political arguments, Sir Nicholas Houghton has clearly breached that constitutional principle. Accordingly, I am writing to the defence secretary to ask him to take action to ensure that the neutrality of the armed forces is upheld.”

• Mr Corbyn, a leading member of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, sparked a row with his shadow cabinet at his party’s annual conference when he revealed that would never press the “nuclear button” – and he has since praised Scottish Labour’s rejection of Trident.Mr Corbyn has said he was elected Labour leader on a platform of opposing Trident renewal and that he is committed to “promoting an international nuclear weapons convention which would lead to a nuclear-free world”……..http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-34759626