Islington North MP Jeremy Corbyn joined survivors and international delegates in Hiroshima

ISLINGTON North MP Jeremy Corbyn has called “to rid this planet of nuclear weapons once and for all” as he visited Hiroshima, 80 years after atomic bombs killed 140,000 people.

Mr Corbyn joined survivors and international delegates on Tuesday to mark the anniversary of the tragedies in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Speaking at the World Conference calling for an end to nuclear weapons, he said: “Today, the global stockpile of nuclear weapons is accelerating as international relations are deteriorating. The world spends 100 billion dollars every year on nuclear weapons – imagine if we spent that money on renewable energy, social housing, public healthcare, schools and lifting children out of poverty instead.”

Mr Corbyn added: “Think of what we could achieve if the money that was spent on items that can only destroy the planet, was instead directed to resources that protected it – and all life on Earth. We are all human beings on one planet. Surely that is enough to try and bring about a world of peace.”

The long-time peace campaigner criticised Western governments for allowing the “horror” and “inhumanity” to unfold in Gaza. “That should haunt us forever,” he said.

Mr Corbyn added: “Our governments could have stopped this genocide. Instead, they allowed Israel to act with impunity, igniting a much wider war between Israel, the United States and Iran – and put the world on the brink of a nuclear conflict.”

The Islington North MP, who has been a member of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament since he was 14 years old, told the rally: “Over the years I’ve got a lot of flak for daring to say that I would not wish to use a nuclear bomb on human beings. For having the audacity to say that killing millions of people would not make the world a safer place. For those who are in doubt over my position: I’m not interested in bombs. I’m interested in peace.”