Posted on 12/01/2006 6:28:16 AM PST by Mrs Ivan
Dozens of Britain’s nuclear warheads will be scrapped under plans to replace Trident.
Tony Blair is expected to announce the move when the Government unveils a white paper on the UK’s nuclear deterrent on Monday.
The reduction will be seen as an attempt to win over Labour MPs opposed to spending up to £20 billion on a new nuclear weapons system. Labour reduced the number of warheads to below 200 when it came to power in 1997 and the latest cut is expected to be significant, in the dozens, but not halving the stockpile.
However, Labour backbenchers are predicting up to 100 MPs could join a rebellion against replacing Trident.
Former home secretary Charles Clarke is the most senior Labour MP who has so far voiced doubts over the need to replace the nuclear deterrent.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell announced today he is backing retaining the current Trident system but called for the number of warheads to be cut to 100 or below.
He wants the life of the Trident network to be extended to keep open options on a final decision until at least 2014.
He said: "There is a measurable danger that if North Korea and Iran are confirmed over the next decade as nuclear states, they will set in train a course of nuclear proliferation which will materially alter the strategic situation."
"Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell announced today he is backing retaining the current Trident system but called for the number of warheads to be cut to 100 or below."
Well, like he's in a position to influence things...
If warheads are to be cut to next to nothing, why have them in the 1st place?
Trident is a big ticket item, and keeping the warheads
safe and effective is not cost free..
They have to be maintained, guarded, and deployed, all
costing millions of pounds. If MoD think they can get
more bang for the buck with more attack subs firing
cruise bombs from their torpedo tubes, how is that not
a good decision?
The UK may not need to scrap the warheads now that we found the nuke triggers hardly degrade at all.
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