Jeremy Corbyn is under pressure to use his first visit to Scotland as Labour leader to clarify his position on Trident after his admission that he would never use nuclear weapons was openly criticised by members of his shadow cabinet.
The Scottish National party, which opposes the renewal of the Trident weapons systems based at Faslane on the Clyde, is seeking to exploit Labour divisions on the issue as Corbyn attempts to win back Labour support in Scotland.
The SNP deputy leader, Stewart Hosie, said: “After days of chaos and infighting, Jeremy Corbyn must use his trip to Scotland to make clear whether he is leading Labour – or whether Labour is leading him.
“Jeremy Corbyn needs to be straight with the people of Scotland – will Labour oppose Trident nuclear weapons on our shores, or simply allow the Tories to go ahead with this outdated and unwanted project?”
Labour is currently committed to renewing Trident despite Corbyn’s admission that he would never use nuclear weapons if he were prime minister. Hosie said: “Labour’s position on Trident has become utterly indefensible.”
In May’s general election, Labour lost all but one of the 41 seats it had won in 2010 as Nicola Sturgeon’s SNP swept the board, taking 56 of the 59 Scottish constituencies.
The SNP’s opposition to the renewal of Trident is seen as one of the key factors in their popularity. A Survation poll in January found that 47% of Scots opposed a new generation of nuclear weapons based on the Clyde, with only 31% in favour. It also found 30% of SNP supporters would be more likely to vote Labour if it promised to decommission Trident.
Speaking in advance of his visit, Corbyn made no mention of the row over Britain’s nuclear deterrent. He claimed Labour’s demise in Scotland was caused in part by its involvement in the cross-party Better Together campaign, as well as its failure to offer an alternative to austerity.
He said: “Too many people have told me that they think the Labour party lost its way. We need to win back their trust by showing them exactly what difference a Labour government would make to their lives.
“The stakes are high for Scotland. People can’t afford a Tory government whose policies are making people work harder for less or an SNP government that is intent on having the arguments of the past rather than looking to the future. It’s time for a Labour government that would put our young people first and make sure that we are narrowing the gap between the richest and the rest.”
Corbyn is due to have talks with Labour’s new leader in Scotland, Kezia Dugdale, and other Labour MSPs at Holyrood on Thursday. He will also meet Scottish trade union leaders, council leaders and local Labour activists.
Johann Lamont, who led Scottish Labour during the referendum campaign, claimed party bosses in London regarded Scotland as a “branch office” when she was in charge.
Corbyn insisted that he and Dugdale are working fine together. He said: “Under my leadership there will be no question about who is in charge of the Scottish Labour party.
“Kezia Dugdale is leader of our party in Scotland and I will be working alongside her to win back support for Labour. Kez has said that she wants to make absolutely clear what the Labour party stands for and who we stand with. That is also my mission across the UK.”
