BRITAIN will not abandon its nuclear deterrent and “take a step into the unknown” under Labour, Andy Burnham, the leadership candidate, has insisted, making clear that if he becomes the party’s leader next month, it would support the renewal of Trident.
With the issue set to rise to the top of the political agenda in the next few months with the main-gate decision on renewing the UK’s fleet of nuclear submarines due in early 2016 – in the run-in to the Holyrood elections – Mr Burnham was asked, in an exclusive interview with The Herald, if he was considering any change to Labour’s established position on supporting a continuous-at-sea nuclear deterrent.
“No. I’m not considering any change,” declared the Shadow Health Secretary. “The uncertainty and the unpredictability of the world in the first 15 years of this decade say to me now is not the moment for the UK to take a step into the unknown and to go it alone in removing its nuclear deterrent.”
He went on: “I’m not in favour of nuclear weapons, I don’t want necessarily to have them but they are a reality and we are where we are; the world is as it is. With Russia flexing its muscles in respect of Ukraine, making incursions into UK air space, do the public in Scotland, England, everywhere, think really this is the moment for us to take, as I say, a step into the unknown. Honestly, I don’t think it is.
“As well, there would be a pretty damaging effect on jobs in Scotland and the communities most affected.”
But it was suggested to Mr Burnham that he might have a political problem because when the Westminster vote takes place on renewal, Ian Murray, Labour’s only MP in Scotland and expected to remain as Shadow Scottish Secretary whoever wins the leadership contest, has said, on a point of principle, that “under no circumstances” would he back Trident renewal .
The would-be leader appeared taken aback when this was pointed out to him, saying: “I had not heard Ian had said that, to be honest. Well, that would be my position as leader of the Labour Party and it would be the position I would expect the party to endorse. This is a matter UK policy, isn’t it?”
Such a clear position could create a major dilemma for Mr Burnham and Mr Murray when it came to the Westminster vote, given their opposing views on Trident renewal. When asked if he would be prepared to face being sacked from Labour’s frontbench by voting against Trident renewal, the Edinburgh MP has previously said: “I’m more than happy to cross that bridge when we come to it.”
The Labour leadership’s political dilemma is likely to be exacerbated because of the SNP Government’s visceral opposition to nuclear weapons; some believe the Conservative Government’s decision to renew Trident could be the catalyst for a second independence referendum.
Meantime, Mr Burnham revealed he wanted to encourage Scottish Labour to think about selecting its new parliamentary candidates through open primaries, in which people, who are not card-carrying members of the party, get a say in choosing Labour’s would-be MPs.
“There is a need to think again how the Labour Party opens up in Scotland,” insisted the MP for Leigh near Manchester, explaining that the old ways of selecting candidates did not speak to a modern, more open age .
“The chance of 50 parliamentary selections does offer a moment when Labour could renew and reinvigorate itself. Working with Ian Murray and with Kezia or Ken, whoever it may be, you would want to look at how you could construct a process, let’s think of UK elections on their own, that really opens up the door and engages the public.”
Asked about open primaries, he replied: “I wouldn’t rule those out but I wouldn’t impose them. I would certainly encourage Scottish colleagues to think about that as a way of really saying to the public in Scotland: help us. The people’s party is your party, it was built by your grandparents and great-grandparents; it was built by your families. I would want to make an open invitation to the people of Scotland to say, look, help us rebuild.”
After Labour’s election drubbing, Mr Burnham said he was “absolutely determined” to unite the party if he won on September 13.
“That will be the point when I say, look, from this day and every day we become a tougher, stronger opposition and stand up for people affected by this government.”
He added: “They think they can run amok these Tories. In me, they will meet their match...The country is crying out for Labour to stand up and be a proper opposition and that is what we will be from day one under my leadership.”
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