Plaid Cymru: Rhun ap Iorwerth says UK should aim for nuclear disarmament

Nuclear disarmament of the UK is something “we all should be aiming for,” according to Plaid Cymru’s leader Rhun ap Irowerth.

But he said the UK’s defence force should be “well-funded”, able to “play their part in defending ourselves in peacekeeping roles” and ensures the welfare of military personnel after they leave service.

His comments come after Conservative minister Penny Mordaunt said in a general election debate Russia’s leader Vladimir Putin would doubt Labour’s willingness to use nuclear arms.

“I’m against the nuclear deterrent because I don’t think that is the kind of defence that we need and should be building in the 21st Century,” Mr ap Irowerth told BBC Radio Wales’ Sunday Supplement.

“We absolutely, yes, need to be making sure that we have adequate defence forces.

“I don’t think that our place here in Wales is to be talking about nuclear deterrence.”