Jeremy Corbyn’s defence spokeswoman Nia Griffith defies him and says she WOULD push the nuclear button

PEACENIK Jeremy Corbyn was torn to shreds by his own defence secretary yesterday as she insisted Labour was committed to nukes.

Shadow Defence Secretary Nia Griffith directly contradicted her own leader by insisting the renewal of Britain’s Trident nuclear deterrent would be in the party’s Election manifesto.

And she told the BBC: “We are absolutely clear … we are prepared to use it. I am certainly prepared to use it.”

But her words flew in the face of the Labour leader who yesterday said that ANY use of the weapons would be a "disaster".

Just 24 hours earlier, Mr Corbyn insisted no decision had yet been made on whether to include Trident in the Labour manifesto.

Officially, backing Trident - our nuclear deterrent - is a Labour Party policy.

But Mr Corbyn said "we haven’t completed work on the manifesto yet" - leading to speculation that supporting it could be dropped for the snap June 8 poll.

And he added that, if elected: "We will have a strategic defence review immediately which will include all aspects of defence."

Today his Shadow Defence Secretary was insistent that the party WOULD back nuclear weapons renewal in their manifesto.

She said: "Nobody wants to use force as a first option. Everybody wants to negotiate first.

"But if you have the option of force, the option of a deterrent... then you are far more likely to sustain peace and security."

Nia Griffiths yesterday said voters needed to know the position of the Labour “team” as a whole. She said: “It absolutely will be in the manifesto because it’s formally our policy.

“The Labour Party is fully committed to the nuclear deterrent and conference after conference I have made that very clear

“Indeed I have made it clear to Jeremy Corbyn, it has been agreed that it is going to be in the manifesto.”

Challenged that it would be Mr Corbyn who would have to decide whether to use the nuclear deterrent, she said: “I think the important thing is we are a team we are a party.

“This is not a Presidential election it’s about who’s in Government.”

Pro-nuke Labour MP John Woodcock said Mr Corbyn’s comments proved why he was right to be “honest” a week ago - when he said he would never vote for the Labour leader to be PM.

Earlier, Labour campaign chairman Andrew Gwynne MP had desperately sought to draw a line under the row by also insisting Trident renewal would be in the manifesto. Labour MPs were privately in despair yesterday.

One said: “This should have all been sorted out weeks ago.

“All this allows the Tories to prevent us talking about them.”

Earlier today Michael Fallon said Theresa May would be prepared to carry out a preemptive strike in extreme circumstances. 

The Defence Secretary said Mr Corbyn was being "staggeringly irresponsible" on defence, and insisted the Tories would protect Britain.

And today the Communist Party said they wouldn't stand any candidates in the June 8 poll because they want to support Mr Corbyn's party of "peace".

ELECTION 2017 LATEST:

• Ukip’s leader Paul Nuttall hid from journalists today as he unveiled some of their election promises – including banning the burka, Sharia courts and new Muslim schools
• Jeremy Corbyn told trade union workers in Scotland he would stand up for the “family” of workers
• The SNP’s Nicola Sturgeon said it would be a two-horse race between her party and the Tories as Labour try to claw back any support North of the border
• London Mayor Sadiq Khan slammed the Government for using the election to delay the publication of new rules to tackle polluted air
• Top Tory Michael Fallon suggested the Conservatives could drop their pledge not to increase taxes in their manifesto
• He also said Theresa May would be prepared to carry out a preemptive nuclear strike in extreme circumstances – after Jeremy Corbyn said yesterday he wouldn’t and that using the weapons would be a disaster
• And former PM Tony Blair has hinted at an extraordinary return to British politics as he urged Labour voters to consider voting TORY to help fight Brexit