Jeremy Corbyn is planning to force Labour MPs to abstain from a key vote on renewing the UK's nuclear deterrent, despite the party officially backing the Trident missile system, the Telegraph understands.

Senior Labour sources have confirmed that the leader is planning to ensure his MPs do not vote on the issue by slapping them with a three line whip to abstain.

It came as the former Assistant Chief of Defence Staff dismissed claims made by Labour's shadow defence secretary that unmanned drones could render Trident obsolete.