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Theresa May would authorise nuclear strike causing mass loss of life Theresa May would authorise nuclear strike causing mass loss of life
(35 minutes later)
Theresa May has said she would be willing to authorise a nuclear strike killing 100,000 people as she made the case for replacing Britain’s Trident submarines ahead of a House of Commons vote on the matter.Theresa May has said she would be willing to authorise a nuclear strike killing 100,000 people as she made the case for replacing Britain’s Trident submarines ahead of a House of Commons vote on the matter.
The prime minister answered decisively when challenged by the SNP about whether she would ever approve a nuclear hit causing mass loss of life. The prime minister answered decisively when challenged by the Scottish National party about whether she would ever approve a nuclear hit causing mass loss of life.
Intervening in her opening speech, George Kerevan, an SNP member, asked: “Is she personally prepared to authorise a nuclear strike that can kill a hundred thousand innocent men, women and children?” Intervening in her opening speech, the SNP MP George Kerevan asked: “Is she personally prepared to authorise a nuclear strike that can kill a hundred thousand innocent men, women and children?”
May responded: “Yes. And I have to say to the honourable gentleman the whole point of a deterrent is that our enemies need to know that we would be prepared to use it, unlike some suggestions that we could have a deterrent but not actually be willing to use it, which seem to come from the Labour party frontbench.”
Her statement was met by gasps from some MPs on the opposition benches, as the chamber debated whether to agree the replacement of Trident.
Related: Trident: airborne deterrent among options being considered by LabourRelated: Trident: airborne deterrent among options being considered by Labour
Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader, responded to May by making the case for nuclear disarmament, pointing out that Labour’s historic pro-Trident position was under review. May responded: “Yes. And I have to say to the honourable gentleman the whole point of a deterrent is that our enemies need to know that we would be prepared to use it, unlike some suggestions that we could have a deterrent but not actually be willing to use it, which seem to come from the Labour party frontbench.”
He has given his MPs a free vote during Labour’s ongoing defence review, which the Guardian understands involves at least five options ranging from complete replacement to disarmament by the 2030s. The three other options are reduced patrols and fewer submarines; missiles carried by aircraft; or adapted submarines to carry both conventional and nuclear warheads. Her statement was met by gasps from some MPs on the opposition benches, as the chamber debated whether or not to renew Trident.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Corbyn said there were currently 40 warheads, which are each eight times as powerful at the atomic bomb that killed 140,000 people at Hiroshima in Japan in 1945. Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader, responded to May by making the case for nuclear disarmament, pointing out that the party’s pro-Trident position was under review.
“What is the threat we are facing that one million people’s deaths would actually deter?” he said, adding it did not stop Islamic State, Saddam Hussain’s atrocities, war crimes in the Balkans or genocide in Rwanda. He has given his MPs a free vote during Labour’s ongoing defence review, which the Guardian understands involves at least five options ranging from complete replacement to disarmament by the 2030s. The three other options are reduced patrols and fewer submarines, missiles carried by aircraft, and adapted submarines to carry both conventional and nuclear warheads.
Speaking in the Commons, Corbyn said there were currently 40 warheads, which are each eight times as powerful at the atomic bomb that killed 140,000 people at Hiroshima in Japan in 1945.
“What is the threat we are facing that one million people’s deaths would actually deter?” he said, adding it did not stop Islamic State, Saddam Hussein’s atrocities, war crimes in the Balkans or genocide in Rwanda.
“I make it clear today I would not take a decision that kills millions of innocent people,” Corbyn told MPs. “I do not believe the threat of mass murder is a legitimate way to deal with international relations.”“I make it clear today I would not take a decision that kills millions of innocent people,” Corbyn told MPs. “I do not believe the threat of mass murder is a legitimate way to deal with international relations.”
However, the prime minister said it would be a “dereliction of duty” to give up Britain’s nuclear deterrent and pledged to keep to the Nato target of spending 2% of national income on defence while she is prime minister. May said it would be a “dereliction of duty” to give up Britain’s nuclear deterrent and pledged to keep to the Nato target of spending 2% of national income on defence while she is prime minister.
Addressing the idea of downgrading the deterrent to a cheaper option, she said: “I am not prepared to settle for something that does not do the job.”Addressing the idea of downgrading the deterrent to a cheaper option, she said: “I am not prepared to settle for something that does not do the job.”
May also took a swipe at anti-Trident MPs on the Labour frontbench and Green MP Caroline Lucas, claiming they were therefore among “the first to defend the country’s enemies”. May also took a swipe at anti-Trident MPs on the Labour frontbench and the Green MP Caroline Lucas, claiming they were therefore among “the first to defend the country’s enemies”.
The cost of Trident renewal has been estimated at more than £40bn. “No credible deterrent is cheap,” she added. The cost of Trident renewal has been estimated at more than £40bn. “No credible deterrent is cheap,” said May.
While the vast majority of Conservatives are in favour of renewing Trident, the Labour party is split three ways between those voting in favour, against and abstentions, while the SNP is firmly against. While the vast majority of Conservatives are in favour of renewing Trident, the Labour party is split three ways between those voting in favour, against and abstaining, while the SNP is firmly against.
Corbyn said the UK should follow the other countries like South Africa, Libya, Ukraine, Argentina, Brazil and Kazakhstan, which have shown they are serious about disarmament by giving up their nuclear programmes. Corbyn said the UK should follow other countries such as South Africa, Libya, Ukraine, Argentina, Brazil and Kazakhstan, which have shown they are serious about disarmament by giving up their nuclear programmes.
“It is now time to step up to the plate and move rapidly towards disarmament,” the Labour leader said.
He was challenged by several Labour MPs as well as Conservatives. Kevan Jones, a former shadow defence minister, highlighted the fact that Corbyn had not kept to the pro-Trident policy agreed by the party’s conference and included in the 2015 manifesto, while Vernon Coaker, a former shadow defence secretary, said it was a “reasonable and responsible” motion in favour of Trident.
Related: Jeremy Corbyn opposes Trident renewal in Commons debate – liveRelated: Jeremy Corbyn opposes Trident renewal in Commons debate – live
Another Labour MP, John Woodcock, said it was an “indictment of how far this once great party has fallen” that it was having a free vote on the issue. He said it showed “contempt” for the public and Labour members, and such a lack of direction would have been “abhorrent” to former leader Michael Foot, who was a unilateralist. “It is now time to step up to the plate and move rapidly towards disarmament,” he said.
He was challenged by several Labour MPs as well as Conservatives. Kevan Jones, a former shadow defence minister, highlighted the fact that Corbyn had not kept to the pro-Trident policy agreed at the party’s conference and included in the 2015 manifesto, while Vernon Coaker, a former shadow defence secretary, said it was a “reasonable and responsible” motion in favour of Trident.
Another Labour MP, John Woodcock, said it was an “indictment of how far this once great party has fallen” that it was having a free vote on the issue. He said it showed contempt for the public and Labour members, and said such a lack of direction would have been “abhorrent” to the former leader Michael Foot, who was a unilateralist.
On the other side, a number of Labour MPs, the SNP and one Tory MP, Crispin Blunt, all spoke out against Trident.On the other side, a number of Labour MPs, the SNP and one Tory MP, Crispin Blunt, all spoke out against Trident.
Brendan O’Hara, SNP spokesman on defence in Westminster, said it was an “intolerable position” that nuclear warheads are kept in Faslane by a government the Scottish people did not elect. Brendan O’Hara, the SNP spokesman on defence in Westminster, said it was an “intolerable position” that nuclear warheads are kept in Faslane by a government the Scottish people did not elect.
Blunt, the chair of the Commons foreign affairs committee, said it was a “colossal investment in a weapons system that will become increasingly vulnerable.” Blunt, the chair of the Commons foreign affairs committee, said it was a “colossal investment in a weapons system that will become increasingly vulnerable”.
“This weapons system comes at the cost of the rest of our defence budget,” Blunt said, while criticising his own party for making it into a “political weapon” aimed at Labour. “This weapons system comes at the cost of the rest of our defence budget,” said Blunt, while criticising his own party for making it into a “political weapon” aimed at Labour.
Corbyn’s anti-Trident position chimes with the views of Labour members surveyed on the issue but has caused tensions within the parliamentary party and with the trade unions.Corbyn’s anti-Trident position chimes with the views of Labour members surveyed on the issue but has caused tensions within the parliamentary party and with the trade unions.
Tim Roache, head of the GMB trade union, called on Corbyn to abide by Labour party policy endorsing Trident renewal, as he warned that 45,000 jobs around the country were dependent on the renewal programme going ahead. Tim Roache, head of the GMB trade union, called on Corbyn to abide by Labour party policy endorsing Trident renewal, and said 45,000 jobs around the country were dependent on the programme going ahead.
Related: Trident: the British question | Ian JackRelated: Trident: the British question | Ian Jack
Roache, who supported Corbyn as leader, told BBC Radio 4’s The World at One: “The Labour party have a clear policy. The clear policy is that Labour will uphold an at-sea deterrent.Roache, who supported Corbyn as leader, told BBC Radio 4’s The World at One: “The Labour party have a clear policy. The clear policy is that Labour will uphold an at-sea deterrent.
“I would expect therefore all Labour MPs, including the leader of the Labour Party – in fact, especially the leader of the Labour party – to uphold that current policy.” “I would expect therefore all Labour MPs, including the leader of the Labour party – in fact, especially the leader of the Labour party – to uphold that current policy.”
He said he would now be balloting the GMB’s 640,000 members on whether they believed Corbyn was still the right person to lead the party. He said he would be balloting the GMB’s 640,000 members on whether they believed Corbyn was still the right person to lead the party.
On the same programme, Tom Watson , the deputy Labour leader, warned of “consequences” for trade union bosses who continue to back Corbyn. On the same programme, Tom Watson, the deputy Labour leader, warned of “consequences” for trade union bosses who continue to back Corbyn.
“You have Len McCluskey [of Unite] strongly supporting Jeremy Corbyn, who will be voting against the Trident programme tonight, which will put many defence workers in Unite out of their jobs if he gets his way,” Watson said. “You have Len McCluskey [of Unite] strongly supporting Jeremy Corbyn, who will be voting against the Trident programme tonight, which will put many defence workers in Unite out of their jobs if he gets his way,” said Watson.
“If I was a defence worker in Unite and I was reading social media that Unite were about to give Jeremy Corbyn a quarter of a million pounds of my subscriptions, I would be furious.”“If I was a defence worker in Unite and I was reading social media that Unite were about to give Jeremy Corbyn a quarter of a million pounds of my subscriptions, I would be furious.”