A BRITISH GENERAL has warned that newly-elected Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn could face “a direct challenge” from the army if he becomes prime minister, it has been reported.
The unidentified general said Corbyn, who opposes Britain’s Trident programme and supports withdrawal from Nato, would face “direct action” if he tries to downgrade the army, according to today’s Sunday Times.
The general told the paper that there were be “mass resignations” and “the very real prospect of an event which would effectively be a mutiny” if Corbyn were to “jeopardise the security of this country”.
In an interview on BBC’s Andrew Marr Show this morning, however, Hilary Benn, Labour’s shadow foreign secretary, said he did not believe the party would back any move to scrap Trident or withdraw from Nato.
Benn also suggested that Labour MPs could defy their new pacifist leader in voting with the British government to launch airstrikes in Syria.
‘People’s Railway’
Meanwhile, Corbyn announced today that he would press ahead with plans to renationalise the British railways if Labour got into power.
He told the Independent on Sunday that England’s rail franchises would be brought under public ownership as the contracts for each one expire.
Britain’s rail network was divided into franchises under a Conservative government programme 20 years ago, but private rail companies remain heavily subsidised by the government.
Five of the 16 franchises are due to expire between 2020 and 2025.
Additional reporting by AFP
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