Jeremy Corbyn will still attempt to impose an anti-Trident policy on Labour he signalled yesterday.
In an unscripted section of his Labour conference speech he warned opponents his overwhelming leadership victory had given him a “mandate” on the nuclear deterrent.
But he attempted to head off a backlash from unions, saying that no jobs should be lost if the weapons system is scrapped.
The surprise move came just days after Mr Corbyn suffered an embarrassing defeat when his conference decided not to discuss the issue, hours after unions said they backed Trident.
Aides later insisted that Mr Corbyn believed there were still months to debate the issue before Labour had to take a position in a crunch Commons vote.
Labour's current policy is in favour of renewing the ageing deterrent on the Clyde.
At the weekend, however, there were hints that Labour MPs could be given a free vote on the issue.
In his keynote speech Mr Corbyn told the party faithful, including dozens of MPs who oppose his stance: “I’ve made my own position on owe issue clear... And I believe I have a mandate from my election on it”.
He added: “I don’t believe £100bn on a new generation of nuclear weapons taking up a quarter of our defence budget is the right way forward.”
And he said he wanted to “make sure all the jobs and skills of everyone in every aspect of the defence industry are fully protected and fully utilised so that we gain from this, we don’t lose from this”.
His comment put him at odds with shadow defence secretary Maria Eagle, who backs Trident.
It was unclear last night whether Ms Eagle knew that Mr Corbyn planned to refer to his “mandate” in relation to Trident..
Shadow cabinet members are normally shown the portion of the speech that involves their subject area.
But the original version did not mention the scale of Mr Corbyn’s victory.
His position was immediately challenged by one Labour backbencher John Mann, who said Mr Corbyn was "entitled" to his views but as leader "will feel obliged to follow the party policy".
In a wide-ranging 55 minute speech Mr Corbyn also defended a strong military and hit back at David Cameron’s claim that the new Labour leadership is a threat to national security.
In a sustained attack he told the hall that many people in Cameron’s Britain did not have the economic “security” they should.
He also pledged new rights for the self-employed as he sets out his vision for a "kinder politics" and a "caring society".
Declaring the he "loved" his country he suggested his values were "British values".
He did not use the speech to apologise for the Labour's role in the Iraq War, but did say it "didn't help our national security".
He also signalled his opposition to military action in Syria, saying: "The answer to this complex and tragic conflict can't simply be found in a few more bombs."
But there was controversy when it emerged that parts of his speech had been sent to Ed Miliband in 2011.
Richard Heller, a former adviser to Denis Healey, sent Mr Corbyn the same words, which were then included in the speech.
A Labour spokesman said that Mr Heller had been consulted and had given permission for his material to be used.
A number of union leaders hailed Mr Corbyn’s speech, including Mark Serwotka, PCS General Secretary, who described it as "a speech of a real leader".
CBI director general John Cridland said his organisation "doesn't recognise Mr Corbyn's characterisation of the economy",
Conservative minister Michael Gove said: "Labour have confirmed that they are a threat to our national security, our economic security and to the security of every family in Britain.
"The Labour leader's policies to borrow more, print money and put up taxes on people's jobs and incomes would wreck our economy."
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