Peacenik Jeremy Corbyn branded as unfit to lead after refusing to say he would defend a NATO ally if it was attacked by Russia

PEACENIK Jeremy Corbyn was yesterday branded unfit to lead by furious defence chiefs after refusing to say he would defend a fellow NATO ally if it was attacked by Russia.

The veteran socialist was accused of “stating platitudes because it gets the unthinking masses to vote for him” after his latest leadership hustings gaffe.

Labour peer Lord West – the ex-commander-in-chief of the Royal Navy – raged that his stance would put millions of people at risk – as it was likely to lead to MORE invasions because tyrants such as Vladimir Putin would feel more confident of attacking.

The peer said: “He should not lead the nation because it leads to war when you don’t stand up to bullies.”

Quizzed multiple times in Birmingham on Thursday evening, Mr Corbyn said: “I don’t wish to go to war, what I want to do is achieve a world where we don’t need to go to war, where there is no need for it”.

Asked if he would take defend our allies with force, he said: “I would want to avoid us getting involved militarily, by building up democratic relationships.”

Labour MP John Woodcock said the comments made him feel “deeply ashamed” of his leader, while Tory MP and former soldier James Cleverly asked: “Whose side is he on?”

NATO’s article five signs Britain up to “collective defence” where an attack against one member is considered an attack against all.

Britain would be expected to uphold that principle but Mr Corbyn would not say he would do so if he was the PM.

He was asked how he would react to an attack from Russian President Vladimir Putin, he replied: “You would obviously try to avoid that happening in the first place, you would build up a good dialogue with Russia to ask them and support them in respecting borders.”

Probed again he replied: “We cannot allow a military build-up which is going to lead to some calamitous, incredibly dangerous situation.”

Mr Corbyn said he would want to avoid the UK entering into military action as he again stressed the importance of talking to other countries instead.

In a furious rant, Labour’s Lord West said: "I think it’s quite an extraordinary comment and shows a complete lack of understanding of what Nato is, just as he doesn’t understand the concept of having a nuclear deterrent.”

“We belong to an alliance, but he stood up and told our allies ‘I’m not necessarily sure that we’ll come to help you’ - I find it quite extraordinary that he’s saying that,” he added.

“He’s stating platitudes because it gets the unthinking masses to vote for him.

"He should not lead the nation because it leads to war when you don’t stand up to bullies.

The respected former Navy chief added: “I have no difficulty with talking to Russia and have fought very hard to maintain communication with them because it’s important, but you must also have a robust stance.”