ONE of the key issues in the election is the defence and security policies of Jeremy Corbyn.

Mr Corbyn is a life-long pacifist and supporter of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament which calls into question his commitment to the renewal of Britain’s nuclear deterrent, the Trident missile system.

He has described Nato as a “danger to the world”. Recently he intimated that he would not automatically send British troops to support a Nato ally under attack. Such a policy could pose a danger to Britain’s national security, and what message does it send to our Nato allies?

Until recently, Mr Corbyn was chairman of the Stop the War Coalition which exists to pursue an aggressive pro-Russian line in international conflicts.

Mr Corbyn has expressed sympathetic views towards the IRA and Hamas whose aim is the destruction of the state of Israel. On terrorism at home he has prevaricated over the right of the security services to shoot to kill armed terrorists.

Given the importance of defence and security policies, it behoves every elector to examine carefully Mr Corbyn’s lukewarm and ambivalent attitudes to these crucial matters before casting their vote.

Stuart Lennie, Leyburn