This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-38714047
The article has changed 15 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Opposition seek explanation over Trident test 'fail' | Opposition seek explanation over Trident test 'fail' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Labour and the Scottish National Party are urging the government to give a full explanation to MPs on how a test firing of a Trident missile went wrong. | Labour and the Scottish National Party are urging the government to give a full explanation to MPs on how a test firing of a Trident missile went wrong. |
| The unarmed missile reportedly veered off course a few weeks before MPs voted to renew the nuclear weapons system. | The unarmed missile reportedly veered off course a few weeks before MPs voted to renew the nuclear weapons system. |
| The Ministry of Defence says submarine HMS Vengeance and its crew were "successfully tested". | The Ministry of Defence says submarine HMS Vengeance and its crew were "successfully tested". |
| Shadow chancellor John McDonnell said it was "extremely worrying" Parliament had not been told of June's incident. | Shadow chancellor John McDonnell said it was "extremely worrying" Parliament had not been told of June's incident. |
| Nia Griffith, Labour's shadow defence secretary, is calling for the prime minister to give "a full explanation" to MPs later. | Nia Griffith, Labour's shadow defence secretary, is calling for the prime minister to give "a full explanation" to MPs later. |
| Meanwhile, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, a long-standing opponent of Trident, whose submarines are based at Faslane, on the River Clyde, called the apparent misfire a "hugely serious issue". | Meanwhile, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, a long-standing opponent of Trident, whose submarines are based at Faslane, on the River Clyde, called the apparent misfire a "hugely serious issue". |
| The SNP leader tweeted: "There should be full disclosure of what happened, who knew what/when, and why the House of Commons wasn't told." | The SNP leader tweeted: "There should be full disclosure of what happened, who knew what/when, and why the House of Commons wasn't told." |
| BBC defence correspondent Jonathan Beale says the Royal Navy has carried out half a dozen such tests since 2000 and in the past has publicised successful launches, but this time did not. | BBC defence correspondent Jonathan Beale says the Royal Navy has carried out half a dozen such tests since 2000 and in the past has publicised successful launches, but this time did not. |
| Analysis | |
| By Laura Kuenssberg, BBC political editor | |
| It's one of the simplest questions in politics, and one of the most troublesome. | |
| At the start of a critical political week, Theresa May finds herself under pressure for refusing to answer it. | |
| Did she, or did she not know that something had gone wrong with our nuclear weapons, when she asked MPs to vote to renew the costly Trident system? | |
| Read Laura's blog | |
| HMS Vengeance, one of the UK's four Vanguard-class submarines, returned to sea for trials in December 2015 after a £350m refit, which included the installation of new missile launch equipment and upgraded computer systems. | HMS Vengeance, one of the UK's four Vanguard-class submarines, returned to sea for trials in December 2015 after a £350m refit, which included the installation of new missile launch equipment and upgraded computer systems. |
| According to the Sunday Times, the unarmed Trident II D5 missile was intended to be fired 5,600 miles (9,012 km) from the coast of Florida to a sea target off the west coast of Africa - but veered towards the US. | According to the Sunday Times, the unarmed Trident II D5 missile was intended to be fired 5,600 miles (9,012 km) from the coast of Florida to a sea target off the west coast of Africa - but veered towards the US. |
| In July, days after Theresa May had become prime minister following David Cameron's resignation, MPs backed the £40bn renewal of Trident by 472 votes to 117. | In July, days after Theresa May had become prime minister following David Cameron's resignation, MPs backed the £40bn renewal of Trident by 472 votes to 117. |
| During the debate, Mrs May told MPs it would be "an act of gross irresponsibility" for the UK to abandon its nuclear weapons. | During the debate, Mrs May told MPs it would be "an act of gross irresponsibility" for the UK to abandon its nuclear weapons. |
| But all 52 SNP MPs voted against it, as did 47 Labour MPs, including party leader Jeremy Corbyn. | But all 52 SNP MPs voted against it, as did 47 Labour MPs, including party leader Jeremy Corbyn. |
| Questioned by the BBC's Andrew Marr on Sunday, Prime Minister Theresa May refused four times to say whether she had known about the test firing ahead of the vote. | Questioned by the BBC's Andrew Marr on Sunday, Prime Minister Theresa May refused four times to say whether she had known about the test firing ahead of the vote. |
| Mrs May said: "I have absolute faith in our Trident missiles. When I made that speech in the House of Commons, what we were talking about was whether or not we should renew our Trident." | Mrs May said: "I have absolute faith in our Trident missiles. When I made that speech in the House of Commons, what we were talking about was whether or not we should renew our Trident." |
| What is Trident? | What is Trident? |
| The Trident system was acquired by the Thatcher government in the early 1980s as a replacement for the Polaris missile system, which the UK had possessed since the 1960s. | The Trident system was acquired by the Thatcher government in the early 1980s as a replacement for the Polaris missile system, which the UK had possessed since the 1960s. |
| Trident came into use in the 1990s. There are three parts to it - submarines, missiles and warheads. Although each component has years of use left, they cannot last indefinitely. | Trident came into use in the 1990s. There are three parts to it - submarines, missiles and warheads. Although each component has years of use left, they cannot last indefinitely. |
| The current generation of four submarines would begin to end their working lives some time in the late 2020s. | The current generation of four submarines would begin to end their working lives some time in the late 2020s. |
| A guide to the Trident debate | A guide to the Trident debate |
| Mr Corbyn said the reports called for "a serious discussion". | Mr Corbyn said the reports called for "a serious discussion". |
| He told Sky News: "It's a pretty catastrophic error when a missile goes in the wrong direction." | He told Sky News: "It's a pretty catastrophic error when a missile goes in the wrong direction." |
| Ms Griffith told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that she wanted a "clear and honest picture" from Mrs May. | Ms Griffith told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that she wanted a "clear and honest picture" from Mrs May. |
| "Of course we are not asking for any inappropriate detail to be revealed," she said. "But we are asking what happened and what the MoD has done since to make sure that things have been put right," she said. | "Of course we are not asking for any inappropriate detail to be revealed," she said. "But we are asking what happened and what the MoD has done since to make sure that things have been put right," she said. |
| 'Bizarre and stupid' | 'Bizarre and stupid' |
| Conservative MP Julian Lewis, chairman of the Commons Defence Committee, said Mrs May had been "handed a no-win situation" by her predecessor as Prime Minister, David Cameron, whose "spin doctors" had been responsible for a "cover-up". | |
| He told Today that the government usually released film footage of the "99%" of missile tests deemed a success and that ministers could not "have it both ways" by not announcing when this had not been the case. | He told Today that the government usually released film footage of the "99%" of missile tests deemed a success and that ministers could not "have it both ways" by not announcing when this had not been the case. |
| But a spokesman for Mr Cameron said: "It is entirely false to suggest that David Cameron's media team covered up or suggested a cover-up for the Trident missile test. | |
| "We were disappointed Julian Lewis would make these claims without any evidence." | |
| Caroline Lucas, co-leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, called for "full disclosure", adding: "A missile veering off course is deeply concerning. Imagine such a failure occurring in a 'real-world' situation - it could lead to the slaughter of millions of people in an ally's country." | Caroline Lucas, co-leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, called for "full disclosure", adding: "A missile veering off course is deeply concerning. Imagine such a failure occurring in a 'real-world' situation - it could lead to the slaughter of millions of people in an ally's country." |
| Kate Hudson, general secretary of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, said: "There's absolutely no doubt that this would have impacted on the debate in Parliament." | Kate Hudson, general secretary of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, said: "There's absolutely no doubt that this would have impacted on the debate in Parliament." |
| But former nuclear submarine commander and Ulster Unionist Party assembly member, Steve Aiken, told Today that any fault "would have been sorted out". | But former nuclear submarine commander and Ulster Unionist Party assembly member, Steve Aiken, told Today that any fault "would have been sorted out". |
| "There is a convention that we don't talk about the deterrent... because that is the nature of the deterrent - it is about the security of this nation and I would fully support the prime minister in avoiding those questions," he said. | "There is a convention that we don't talk about the deterrent... because that is the nature of the deterrent - it is about the security of this nation and I would fully support the prime minister in avoiding those questions," he said. |
| A statement issued by Downing Street and the MoD said the capability and effectiveness of Trident was "unquestionable". | A statement issued by Downing Street and the MoD said the capability and effectiveness of Trident was "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. | "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." | "Vengeance and her crew were successfully tested and certified, allowing Vengeance to return into service. We have absolute confidence in our independent nuclear deterrent." |