Trident will be replaced under Tory government, reveals Fox

Published on Sunday 3 May 2009 22:11

THE replacement of the Trident nuclear deterrent would take place under a Conservative government but the submarine fleet could be cut from four to three, shadow defence secretary Liam Fox said yesterday.

Dr Fox said all major defence projects needed to be reviewed to ensure value for money for the taxpayer.

But he said it was "prudent and sensible" to give Britain the "guarantee against nuclear blackmail".

He said: "We are in favour of the replacement of the nuclear deterrent, we voted for it in parliament.

"But like all other projects that we have, we have to review them for value for money for the taxpayer."

Pressed on the number of submarines in the nuclear fleet, he said: "Whether we have three or four, it's something that would be dependent on the technology.

"We're talking quite a few years ahead.

"If you look at the elements within that, the current estimates of 2-3 billion for the infrastructure required, we have to look at all of those projects to see if we get value for money for the taxpayer."

Dr Fox said Tory leader David Cameron had made it "very clear" that the Conservatives would replace Trident.

At a news conference last week, Mr Cameron appeared to warn that his party could not guarantee to carry out the Trident update.

But Dr Fox said yesterday: "Clearly in a world, when you've got countries like North Korea and Iran potentially developing nuclear weapons, it is prudent and sensible to give Britain the guarantee against nuclear blackmail for what would be to 2040-50 and beyond."