New Labour leader could face mutiny if military downgraded: UK general

LONDON

AP photo

A senior U.K. general has been quoted as saying a government under Jeremy Corbyn, the newly elected Labour Party leader, could face “a mutiny” from the military if he attempts to downgrade them.

Members of the armed forces would begin directly and publicly challenging the Labour leader if he tried to scrap Trident, a program which encompasses the development, procurement and operation of the current generation of British nuclear weapons, and pull out of NATO or announce “any plans to emasculate and shrink the size of the armed forces,” the Sunday Times quoted the anonymous general as saying. 

“The army just wouldn’t stand for it. The general staff would not allow a prime minister to jeopardize the security of this country and I think people would use whatever means possible, fair or foul to prevent that. You can’t put a maverick in charge of a country’s security,” the general reportedly said. 

“There would be mass resignations at all levels and you would face the very real prospect of an event which would effectively be a mutiny.”