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Labour leader concerned at top general's 'political' comments

British Chief of the Defence Staff, General Sir Nicholas Houghton appearing on the BBC One current affairs programme, The Andrew Marr Show. Picture by Jeff Overs/BBC/PA
British Chief of the Defence Staff, General Sir Nicholas Houghton appearing on the BBC One current affairs programme, The Andrew Marr Show. Picture by Jeff Overs/BBC/PA British Chief of the Defence Staff, General Sir Nicholas Houghton appearing on the BBC One current affairs programme, The Andrew Marr Show. Picture by Jeff Overs/BBC/PA

JERMEY Corbyn has hit out at the head of the armed forces after he publicly expressed concern about the Labour leader's views on Britain's Trident nuclear deterrent.

Mr Corbyn said the comments by General Sir Nicholas Houghton were a breach of the constitutional principle that the military did not intervene directly in matters of political dispute.

He said that he would be writing to Defence Secretary Michael Fallon calling on him to ensure "the neutrality of the armed forces is upheld".

His intervention came after Sir Nicholas said he would "worry" if Mr Corbyn became prime minister with a commitment never to use Britain's nuclear deterrent.

Appearing on BBC1's The Andrew Marr Show, he warned that a premier who had made clear – as Mr Corbyn has done – there were no circumstances in which they would press the nuclear button would undermine the credibility of the deterrent.

In a statement, Mr Corbyn 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."

Earlier however, shadow defence secretary Maria Eagle – who has her herself criticised Mr Corbyn's remarks – insisted that the general was entitled to speak out on the issue.

"I don't think there is anything wrong with him expressing himself in those terms," she told The Andrew Marr Show.

"I understand the point that he is making. It is the point that I made myself when Jeremy said what he said,"

Sir Nicholas said that his concerns were for the credibility of the deterrent if there was a prime minister who had declared that he would never authorise its use.

"It would worry me if that thought was translated into power," he said.

"The reason I say this – and it's not based on a personal thing at all – is purely based upon the credibility of deterrence. The whole thing of deterrence rests upon the credibility of its use.

"When people say they're never going to use the deterrent, I say you use the deterrent every second of every minute of every day – the purpose of the deterrent is you don't have to use it because you effectively deter.

"Most of the politicians I know understand that and I think, dare I say, the responsibility of power is probably quite a sobering thing and you come to a realisation 'I understand how this thing works'."

It is not the first time Mr Corbyn has clashed with the military since becoming Labour leader.

Following his election in September, an unnamed serving general was quoted by The Sunday Times as warning there could be a "mutiny" if he became prime minister.

Attending a wreath-laying ceremony in his Islington North constituency following the Remembrance Sunday commemorations at the Cenotaph, Mr Corbyn said Sir Nicholas's latest comments were "unhelpful".

"I would gently say to him, with the greatest of respect, we live in a democracy where politicians are elected to Parliament in order to take political decisions," he said.

"If he's worried, I think he should talk to me about it. I don't think it is appropriate for serving officers to make political comments or engage in political debate."

Asked later whether the General should take back the comment, Mr Corbyn said: "I don't think he can take back what he said.

"I just think that we have to be clear that in a democracy we are elected to hold positions in the Parliament, we are elected to put further the point of view and ultimately, crucial major political decisions have to be made and MPs have to live with the responsibility of doing that and the consequences of what they decide to do."

He added: "It's not really up to others to try and keep second guessing what the politicians are trying to say."

Mr Corbyn insisted the comments would not sour the relationship.

He said: "I look forward to meeting him. I don't do bad blood, I do positive."