|

Trident

On the 4th March 100 Labour MPs opposed either the main question or supported the amendment on the decision of the replacement of Trident nuclear missile system. They were also joined in the lobbies by Lib Dems, Nationalists and Independents, to provide one of the biggest votes against government defence policy for decades.

Essentially, there were two arguments.  Firstly, the expenditure - £25 billion on replacement, and the commitment to £1.5 billion per running costs, does not sit well with either the stated defence priorities of the government in other military spheres, or with the very obvious problems that every member is facing over health expenditure. 

Secondly, in May, the government will be asked to submit its initial statement to the preparatory committee for the next Non Proliferation Treaty Review conference.    It will be very interesting to know what the British government will have to say at the Vienna meeting.  Britain’s contribution towards Non Proliferation is to agree a new fleet of submarines to carry another generation of nuclear missiles. 

The arguments used by the pro-nuclear MPs on the 14th could have just as easily been made in any other country in the world wanting to develop nuclear weapons.  If we say we need them for our own self defence, when there is no threat from any nuclear power, this seems absurd.  The real reason for developing a new generation of nuclear weapons is one of vanity in the face of, and a wish to be close to, the United States in all defence issues.   

It is sad that the House missed a golden opportunity to demonstrate a real commitment to peace around the world last week.  However, the issue is not dead, is not going away, and opinion polls show they expect MPs to oppose all the consequent votes on this vast expenditure on this totally unnecessary weapon of mass destruction.