Labour’s shadow defence secretary John Healey blasts Jeremy Corbyn for claiming UK weapons sent to Ukraine could be used to invade Russia – and demands ministers boost weapons production and stockpiles in case of ‘future conflict’
- Corbyn said he opposed sending military aid and wanted immediate ceasefire
- Critics say this would allow Russia to cement its presence in Ukrainian territory
- Healey: ‘Jeremy Corbyn is on the outer margins of British public opinion’
A senior Labour frontbencher today laid into Jeremy Corbyn over his soft stance on Putin’s invasion of Ukraine and demanded the government urgently rearm in case of a future conflict.
Shadow defence secretary John Healey distanced the party from its former leader after he said he would not send UK military aid to Kyiv if he was in charge in case it was used to invade Russia.
Mr Healey is expected to use a speech tonight to call for Britain to change its procurement system to re-arm itself after supplying weapons and ammunition to Ukraine. He will also call for the UK to forge closer defence links with European allies in the face of Russian aggression.
Speaking to Global’s The News Agents podcast, Mr Corbyn last week reiterated his support for a ceasefire – a move critics say would allow Russia to cement its presence in occupied Ukrainian territory and resist a counter attack.
He added: ‘I would not be sending materiel which would allow the invasion of Russia.’
Asked about the comments on Times Radio today, Mr Healey said: ‘Jeremy Corbyn is no longer a Labour MP, and this just confirms that Jeremy Corbyn is on the outer margins of British public opinion.
Speaking to Global’s The News Agents podcast, Mr Corbyn reiterated his support for a ceasefire – a move critics say would allow Russia to cement its presence in occupied Ukrainian territory.
Asked about the comments on Times Radio today, Mr Healey said: ‘Jeremy Corbyn is no longer a Labour MP, and this just confirms that Jeremy Corbyn is on the outer margins of British public opinion.’
‘The UK has been united in its support for Ukraine. The Government has had Labour’s fullest support for the military assistance we provided and for the steps to reinforce Nato allies.’
In a speech to the Royal United Services Institute (Rusi) tonight, Mr Healey is expected to argue in favour of a ‘stockpiles strategy’ for munition and an overhaul of what he said was a ‘wasteful peacetime procurement system’ that would allow the UK to rearm and increase its aid for Kyiv.
‘The next government will inherit the Ukraine conflict and Russia’s wider aggression. With a General Election, there may be a change to Labour but there will be no change to Britain’s resolve in confronting Russia’s threats, pursuing Putin’s crimes and standing with Ukraine,’ he is expected to say.
‘We need to shift parts of our defence industry and MoD procurement on to an urgent operational footing, both to support Ukraine for the long-term and to replenish UK stocks for any future conflict’.
It comes amid criticism of the UK’s military preparedness. Last week a former general claimed the Armed Forces’ ammunition stocks would run out in a day if it fought Russia, after years of cuts that have left military’s stores bare.
The warning from General Sir Richard Barrons came a day after Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said the UK’s forces have been ‘hollowed out’, adding that military spending may have to rise for two decades, owing to global threats.
But the Treasury is said to be resisting efforts by the MoD to get its budget increased.
It was also revealed that Britain has no working heavy artillery guns after giving all serviceable AS90 self-propelled items to Ukraine.
General Barrons said the Army requires £3 billion more a year to rejoin Nato’s top tier, after a US military leader said the UK was no longer a tier 1 military power.
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