Put Trident in defence review says Dannatt

THE future of Trident should be considered in the current strategic defence review if the Ministry of Defence is to be required to pay for the replacement of Britain's nuclear deterrent from its core budget, a former army chief has advised.

Trident is currently excluded from the review of the UK's security and defence requirements.

But General Sir Richard Dannatt says he believes it is right to go ahead with the replacement of the ageing nuclear submarine fleet which carries Britain's nuclear missiles.

Gen Dannatt said in a TV interview yesterday: "The problem of asking the MoD to pay for it is that the MoD budget is not going to get any larger. Indeed, it may get smaller. It is already under huge pressure and therefore a lot of other projects — some important projects — will have to get pushed out of the programme.

"I think this strategic defence review has to ask itself two really key questions: What is the character and nature of future conflict, and what are the threats to the security of this country?

"That's why it is important to include the nuclear deterrent aspect in that debate.

"It is effectively being put on the table for discussion by asking the MoD to pay for it."