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Renewing the Trident nuclear weapons system WILL be in Labour's manifesto for the 2017 general election, the party's campaign chief has confirmed.

Andrew Gwynne clarified after Jeremy Corbynrefused to guarantee it would appear in the document - insisting it was still being drawn up.

Labour's leader also left open the possibility of his party's long support for Trident being scrapped in a major defence review if he becomes Prime Minister.

But Mr Gwynne said today: "The Labour party is very clear. We’re committed to a credible nuclear capability at the minimum end of the scale, delivered through continuous at-sea deterrent.

"That is Labour party policy and it will be in the manifesto."

(Image: Getty)

Mr Corbyn is a lifelong anti-nuclear campaigner, but Labour policy supports the renewal of Trident .

That has caused ructions in the 18 months since he became Labour leader, with the party split three ways on whether to back renewal last year.

The government has set aside £41bn for replacing the four submarines that carry the nation's arsenal.

Campaigners say the project, which MPs have approved in a 'main gate' vote, will cost £205bn over its lifetime.

Mr Gwynne told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "It’s Labour party policy that was settled at Labour Party conference a while back.

"We are committed to renewing the Trident system."

(Image: PA)

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But Mr Gwynne added: "We would not be in a position where the first choice would be to press that red button."

"We believe in multilateralism. We believe in sitting down and negotiating away our nuclear weapons systems to create a nuclear weapon free world.

"We also need to make sure no other countries develop or get nuclear weapons as well.

"That's the kind of future I want for my children. I don't want my children to live in a world where we are threatened by nuclear weapons."

Meanwhile Defence Secretary Michael Fallon confirmed he would be prepared to launch a pre-emptive 'first strike' in "the most extreme circumstances".

(Image: Getty)

But Mr Fallon said: "They are better not specified or described, which would only give comfort to our enemies and make the deterrent less credible.

"The whole point of a deterrent is you've got to leave uncertainty in the mind of anybody who might be thinking of using weapons against this country."

Mr Fallon claimed the Labour leader's interview was "staggering", saying: "This is somebody who would certainly put the security of our country at risk."

He then refused to say the generals and Tory grandees who oppose Trident renewal are a security risk too.