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| Labour urges inquiry into Trident 'malfunction' cover-up claims | |
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| Allegations that the government covered up a failed test of the Trident nuclear deterrent weeks before a crucial vote on its renewal must be urgently investigated, a former defence minister has said. | Allegations that the government covered up a failed test of the Trident nuclear deterrent weeks before a crucial vote on its renewal must be urgently investigated, a former defence minister has said. |
| An unarmed Trident II D5 missile veered in the wrong direction towards the US when it was launched from a British submarine off the coast of Florida in June last year, the Sunday Times reported. | An unarmed Trident II D5 missile veered in the wrong direction towards the US when it was launched from a British submarine off the coast of Florida in June last year, the Sunday Times reported. |
| It quoted an unnamed senior naval source as saying that the “disastrous failure” caused panic in Downing Street, which feared it would damage the credibility of Britain’s nuclear deterrent and so decided to cover it up. | It quoted an unnamed senior naval source as saying that the “disastrous failure” caused panic in Downing Street, which feared it would damage the credibility of Britain’s nuclear deterrent and so decided to cover it up. |
| Labour MP and former defence minister Kevan Jones told the Sunday Times: “If there are problems, they should not have been covered up in this ham-fisted way. Ministers should come clean if there are problems and there should be an urgent inquiry into what happened.” | Labour MP and former defence minister Kevan Jones told the Sunday Times: “If there are problems, they should not have been covered up in this ham-fisted way. Ministers should come clean if there are problems and there should be an urgent inquiry into what happened.” |
| In July, days after Theresa May became prime minister, MPs voted overwhelmingly to spend up to £40bn on replacing Britain’s Trident programme. May drew gasps during the parliamentary debate when she when she made clear she would be willing to authorise a nuclear strike killing 100,000 people. | In July, days after Theresa May became prime minister, MPs voted overwhelmingly to spend up to £40bn on replacing Britain’s Trident programme. May drew gasps during the parliamentary debate when she when she made clear she would be willing to authorise a nuclear strike killing 100,000 people. |
| The report says that the missile fired from HMS Vengeance was supposed to hit an intended sea target off the west coast of Africa. It states that the cause of the problem is unknown but that it suffered an in-flight malfunction after launching out of the water. | The report says that the missile fired from HMS Vengeance was supposed to hit an intended sea target off the west coast of Africa. It states that the cause of the problem is unknown but that it suffered an in-flight malfunction after launching out of the water. |
| HMS Vengeance, one of the UK’s four Vanguard-class submarines, designed to carry the UK’s Trident ballistic missiles returned to sea in December 2015 after a £350m four-year refit programme, which included the installation of improved missile launch equipment and upgraded computer systems. | HMS Vengeance, one of the UK’s four Vanguard-class submarines, designed to carry the UK’s Trident ballistic missiles returned to sea in December 2015 after a £350m four-year refit programme, which included the installation of improved missile launch equipment and upgraded computer systems. |
| Tests are rare as the missiles each cost about £17m. When they have been carried out in the past they have been publicised, in some cases with accompanying video footage, but this is the first time last year’s exercise has been reported. | Tests are rare as the missiles each cost about £17m. When they have been carried out in the past they have been publicised, in some cases with accompanying video footage, but this is the first time last year’s exercise has been reported. |
| Responding to the report, the Ministry of Defence did not deny that the missile had veered off course but described the test as a success. A government spokesman said: “The capability and effectiveness of the Trident missile, should we ever need to employ it, is unquestionable. In June, the Royal Navy conducted a routine unarmed Trident missile test launch from HMS Vengeance, as part of an operation which is designed to certify the submarine and its crew. | Responding to the report, the Ministry of Defence did not deny that the missile had veered off course but described the test as a success. A government spokesman said: “The capability and effectiveness of the Trident missile, should we ever need to employ it, is unquestionable. In June, the Royal Navy conducted a routine unarmed Trident missile test launch from HMS Vengeance, as part of an operation which is designed to certify the submarine and its crew. |
| “Vengeance and her crew were successfully tested and certified, allowing Vengeance to return into service. We have absolute confidence in our independent nuclear deterrent. We do not provide further details on submarine operations for obvious national security reasons.” | “Vengeance and her crew were successfully tested and certified, allowing Vengeance to return into service. We have absolute confidence in our independent nuclear deterrent. We do not provide further details on submarine operations for obvious national security reasons.” |