Jeremy Corbyn has “been on a journey” since suggesting Nato was a “danger to the world” in a speech six years ago, the party’s Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry has said.
Appearing on BBC’s Andrew Marr Show, Ms Thornberry appeared to stumble as she was replayed a series of statements made by the Labour leader deriding the 28-member military alliance from 2011.
In the clip Mr Corbyn had said the transatlantic organisation was a “major problem” and a “danger to world peace”. But Ms Thornberry responded: “That’s a quote from six years ago and Jeremy has been on a journey, to coin a phrase.
“There have been a number of discussions. It is quite clear that the predominance of opinion within the Labour is that we are committed to Nato."
Asked to repudiate Mr Corbyn's 2011 comments, she said: "I'm not fighting with anybody, I'm telling you that the Labour Party's position is a clear one." She added that "lots of politicians change their minds".
During the interview Ms Thornberry also said Labour would not rescind Donald Trump’s invitation to Britain on a state visit – scheduled for later this year – should the party win the general election in four weeks’ time.
Asked about the planned state visit, the Shadow Foreign Secretary said: “He’s been invited and don’t think it would be right to disinvite him.”
She did, however, suggest it was a mistake to invite the US President “so quickly” and added she would “work with him but I would be prepared to stand up to him”.
On the Faklands, Ms Thornberry said Labour would be prepared to send a taskforce in response to a crisis and there was no question of giving up sovereignty while the islanders wished to remain British.
"There needs to be a future in terms of talking to the neighbours of the Falklands", she said, but "certainly not undermining the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands."
She claimed the Tories were "gung-ho" over the use of force, insisting "you have to look at the alternatives first".
