Corbyn calls for public discipline as he stamps authority in Trident debate

Jeremy Corbyn reportedly said he expects greater loyalty from his frontbench at yesterday’s meeting of the Shadow Cabinet.

This followed a private meeting with Shadow Defence Secretary Maria Eagle, who caused consternation in the leader’s office when she appeared to back comments by General Sir Richard Houghton about Trident. The army chief’s comments have angered Corbyn, who claims the general has overstepped the mark of political neutrality expected from the armed forces.

According to The Guardian, Corbyn reiterated his belief about Houghton’s comments, and said that he expected to be backed on the issue.

Eagle, who was appearing live on the Marr Show alongside Houghton when she was asked to react to the remarks, said she was comfortable with Houghton “expressing himself in those terms”. Once the show had finished, however, the leader issued a statement condemning the comments, and said that he would write to the Ministry of Defence about the subject.

Fellow Shadow Defence minister Kevan Jones has already defended Eagle, saying he believed there was “nothing wrong” with what Houghton said. Shadow Cabinet member Michael Dugher also said in an interview last week that he was “baffled” by the decision by Scottish Labour conference to oppose Trident, and pointed out that renewal was still UK Labour policy.

“We believe in a continuous at-sea deterrent, that was the Labour Party’s policy yesterday, it’s still the Labour Party’s policy today and it’s something worth defending,” Dugher said.

Corbyn’s actions at the Shadow Cabinet meeting appear to be one the first instances of the Labour leader stamping his authority, telling colleagues that policy disputes should be carried out in a less public manner, and that all media statements should be be run by the leader’s office. It seems he will be taking a tougher line on those who are perceived at challenging the leader’s authority.