Labour's civil war goes nuclear! Shadow defence secretary 'punched wall' after Corbyn aide forced him to drop Trident renewal vow from speech

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Jeremy Corbyn is embroiled in a bitter row with one of his closest allies today over the Labour leader's refusal to accept renewal of Trident.

Seumas Milne, the veteran left-winger's closest aide, is said to have stepped in to tone down shadow defence secretary Clive Lewis's party conference speech just minutes before it was delivered.

Mr Lewis had been expected to dismiss the idea of unpicking the party's policy of supporting Britain's nuclear deterrent.

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Shadow defence secretary Clive Lewis, pictured delivering his speech, is said to have been infuriated that the text was edited

Mr Lewis anxiously checked his phone moments before he delivered the speech at the Labour conference in Liverpool today

He then looked visibly angry and reported went on to punch a wall and cancel a BBC appearance to talk about the speech

But when the MP stepped on to the platform in Liverpool he reportedly was handed a post-it note telling him the autocue text had been edited.

Instead, Mr Lewis - who has supported Mr Corbyn through the rebellion by MPs - delivered a blander statement recognising that the party 'has a policy for Trident renewal'. 

Even so, anti-nuclear campaign group CND - of which Mr Corbyn is still vice-president - condemned his comments.

Some reports suggested Mr Lewis was so angry afterwards he punched a wall, and cancelled an appearance on the BBC to talk about his speech. 

Mr Lewis - who has supported Mr Corbyn through the rebellion by MPs - delivered a blander statement recognising that the party 'has a policy for Trident renewal'

The extraordinary developments came amid an apparent attempt to push Mr Corbyn into accepting the party's current position on Trident.

 Mr Corbyn has insisted he still hopes to shift Labour to backing unilateral disarmament - despite the bulk of the parliamentary party disagreeing with him.

 The issue remains a key bone of contention with rebel MPs, and would prevent some senior figures rejoining the shadow cabinet in the wake of Mr Corbyn's overwhelming leadership election victory. 

Both Mr Lewis and shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry used their speeches today to stress their focus on multilateral disarmament - where the goal is for all countries give up nuclear weapons at the same time. 

Jeremy Corbyn's closest aide Seumas Milne, pictured left in Liverpool yesterday, is said to have altered the autocue for Mr Lewis's speech at the last moment

Mr Lewis, an army veteran, looked angered by something as he sat on the platform before addressing delegates. 

'As you know, I am sceptical about Trident renewal, as are many here,' he told them. 'But I am clear that our Party has a policy for Trident renewal.

'But I also want to be clear that our Party's policy is also that we all share the ambition of a nuclear-free world.

'So we will take steps to make that ambition a reality. So we will make our long-standing multilateralism reality, not rhetoric.' 

A Labour source told the PoliticsHome website: 'Clive punched a wall when he came off the stage because Seumas altered his speech on the autocue.

'He was fuming as he sent a post-it note on stage as he was sat there ready to speak and didn't know what the exact change was. Apparently Clive had agreed it with Jeremy but Seumas changed it.'

A spokesman for Mr Corbyn said: 'All speeches are put together in conjunction with the leader's office. It was confirmed to Clive that the agreed speech had been amended on the autocue.' 

Mr Lewis also seemed determined to draw a line under arguments over Labour's position on Nato membership.

Despite insisting he supports Nato, Mr Corbyn previously voiced scepticism about its stance and the commitment to spending 2 per cent of GDP on defence.

He also refused to say recently whether he would follow the core 'Article 5' principle of defending any Nato member that was under attack.

But Mr Lewis said: 'When I look at our key military alliance – Nato – I see an organisation that springs directly from our values: collectivism, internationalism and the strong defending the weak. 

'Its founding charter – a progressive charter – includes standing up for democracy and defending human rights. These are values that I believe go to the core of our political identity.

Jeremy Corbyn wants to scrap the Trident nuclear deterrent but the bulk of the parliamentary party supports renewing the weapons system

'So, of course, a Labour government would fulfil our international commitments, including those under Article 5. 

'But let's be clear: that means both our military and our diplomatic obligations. We cannot have one without the other, and nor should we.

'Every Labour government since Attlee's has met Nato's spending target of at least 2 per cent of GDP, every single year. 

'And I confirm today that the next Labour government will do the same, including our UN and peacekeeping obligations.'

Mr Lewis also stressed his commitment to the Nato alliance despite Mr Corbyn expressing scepticism previously

CND general secretary Kate Hudson said: 'Mr Lewis has clearly signalled that the Labour leadership will not seek to change Labour policy and appears to have abandoned its defence review conducted extensively over the past year. 

'The majority of Labour members oppose Trident replacement, so where is the democracy in that? 

'Lewis made it clear that this was a decision designed to avoid political attack by the prime minister - but it has merely handed Theresa May support for one of her most controversial projects. 

'There is enormous opposition to Trident replacement within the Labour party and there will be huge disappointment at this U-turn by Clive Lewis. 

'We have no doubt that Labour members will work to oppose this disastrous announcement and bring a democratic debate to Labour’s conference next year.'