Billions are spent on 'son of Trident' but future still in doubt

Published on Wednesday 18 May 2011 17:28

DEFENCE Secretary Liam Fox has given the go-ahead for the first stage of replacing Britain's nuclear submarine fleet.

However, despite the award of 3 billion of contracts, a question mark remains over the replacement of Trident after Dr Fox confirmed a review will be carried out into alternatives.

In a concession to their Lib Dem partners, a final decision on replacing the existing Clyde-based fleet is now not due until 2016, a delay of two years.

Dr Fox told MPs that while he still believed that a submarine-based ballistic missile system remained the most effective deterrent, he had agreed that officials should look at the alternatives.

The announcement angered right-wing Tory MPs and many Labour MPs who were concerned when they heard the review is to be headed by Lib Dem armed forces minister Nick Harvey who, actively opposes having a submarine-based nuclear deterrent.

Tory MP James Gray criticised the review being offered as a concession to the Lib Dems.

He said "public money and ministerial time and resource" was "being used to bolster and examine the manifesto commitment of one particular party which may or may not be part of the coalition".

Labour's John Woodcock, in whose Barrow and Furness seat much of the work on the boats will be carried out, criticised the review being placed in the hands of a Lib Dem, whose party is "pre-disposed to reject the only option that makes any sense".

However, Dr Fox said that the coalition needed to reflect the views of both parties, even though the agreement between them allowed for a Lib Dem opt out on Trident.

Dr Fox said: "To assist the Liberal Democrats in making their case for alternatives I am also announcing today the initiation of study to review the costs, feasibility and credibility of alternative systems and postures."

Labour's shadow defence secretary Jim Murphy raised concerns that the issue had now been reduced to a negotiation within the coalition.

He said it was important the policy was "evidence-based and in the interest of national security and is not on occasion driven by the dynamic within coalition parties".

He added: "We do remain committed to a minimum credible independent nuclear deterrent. We welcome the announcements made today by the Government. This is a decision which will impact on our nation and beyond for decades to come."Former Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell called for the conclusions of the review into alternatives to be published.

But there was anger from SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson who said that the coalition had in effect abandoned the respect agenda with Scotland.

He said: "People in Scotland will be appalled that whilst the Westminster government is forging ahead with an early cuts programme they can find the money for a new weapons system that offers little defence in the 21st century.

"The UK Government are, unwittingly, reinforcing the case for Scottish independence with their mad plans to push ahead with renewal of Trident."

Greenpeace said approval of contracts worth 3bn gave the lie to Liberal Democrat boasts that they had delayed a final decision on Trident until after the next general election.