On the 70th Hiroshima anniversary, Corbyn outlines defence diversification plan that includes scrapping Trident

Today, on the 70th anniversary of the commemoration of Hiroshima, Jeremy Corbyn is outlining why he wouldn’t replace Trident with a new generation of nuclear weapons.

The leadership contender is setting out his defence diversification policy as he speaks at the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament’s (CND) event to commemorate Hiroshima in central London. He has been a member of CND since he was fifteen. It is 70 years since the US dropped the the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, at least 140,000 people were killed. There was then a second bomb dropped three days later on Nagasaki. People across Japan have marked this anniversary with a minutes silence at the exact time (08.15 in Japan) when the bomb was dropped.

Corbyn is releasing his diversification plans today. In his plans Corbyn, recognises that it is likely the vote on a Trident renewal, which is scheduled to take place next year, will pass. He argues that if a Labour government committed to ending Trident replacements is elected in 2020 they would have a plan to ensure that the skills and jobs of those working in affected industries would be diversified so neither jobs or skills are lost.

Corbyn has said he would establish a Defence Diversification Agency (DDA) to would work with communities, the work force, trade unions and industries to create a plan that all agreed upon. He has argued his campaign are making the case for a DDA because “we have a moral duty, and strategic defence and international commitments, to make Britain and the world a safer place.”

The Islington North MP says that as a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Britain should “give a lead in discharging its obligations by not seeking a replacement for Trident, as we are committed to ‘accelerate concrete progress’ towards nuclear disarmament”. He also notes 5 Senior military figures have described Britain’s existing nuclear weapons as ‘militarily useless’ and said that Britain’s possession of them “encourages other countries to seek a similar arsenal while undermining the efforts being made to advance the cause of international nuclear disarmament”.

His wider industrial plan would see the creation of more skilled science, engineering and technology roles, he has said.

Corbyn has argued this diversification plan is part of proposals to rebalance the economy and promote growth instead of pursuing an austerity agenda:

“Not renewing Trident gives our country an opportunity to invest in industry, innovation and infrastructure that will rebalance our economy and transform it into a high skilled, high-tech world leading economy. It is not only the right thing to do but a better way to deal with our economic challenges.”