Starmer says he is prepared to deploy nuclear weapons if needed to defend UK

Starmer says he would be prepared to deploy nuclear weapons if needed to defend UKSource: Reuters

Transcript

00:00on the nuclear deterrence is fundamental, it's a vital part of our defence and of course

00:05that means we have to be prepared to use it.

00:09Keir Starmer, you could be Prime Minister next month. If circumstances necessitated

00:14it would you authorise the firing of nuclear weapons, yes or no? And has the Labour leopard

00:21really changed its spots on defence? The man who could be your Foreign Secretary, David

00:26Lammy in a matter of weeks, the woman who could be Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner

00:30in a matter of weeks, both voted against the UK's nuclear weapons just eight years ago

00:34as did plenty of other current Labour frontbenchers. How unshakeable are their views?

00:41Well Chris, firstly on the nuclear deterrence, it's fundamental, it's a vital part of our

00:46defence and of course that means we have to be prepared to use it. Now nobody who is despised

00:53to be Prime Minister would set out the circumstances in which it would be used, that would be

00:58irresponsible, but it is there as part, a vital part of our defence so of course we

01:05would have to be prepared to use it.

01:08On the other point you put to me, look this is a changed Labour Party and the most important

01:13thing is that I voted in favour of the nuclear deterrent and if we are privileged to come

01:18in to serve, I will serve as the Prime Minister of this country and my commitment to the nuclear

01:26deterrent is absolute, absolute, that is why I voted for it, that is why I've changed this

01:31party and that's why it will be the number one issue for an incoming Labour government.