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| Michael Fallon accused of keeping MPs in dark over Trident failure | Michael Fallon accused of keeping MPs in dark over Trident failure |
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| Michael Fallon was accused by MPs of keeping parliament in the dark about the failed Trident missile test, as it emerged that a US official had told CNN that it had been forced to self-destruct. | |
| In a Commons statement, the defence secretary refused to provide further information about the incident, saying it was important not to reveal operational details of the test for reasons of national security. | In a Commons statement, the defence secretary refused to provide further information about the incident, saying it was important not to reveal operational details of the test for reasons of national security. |
| He stonewalled a succession of questions from Labour, SNP and Conservative MPs, who demanded to know why they had not been told about the failed test before being asked to renew the £40bn Trident system in a parliamentary vote last July. | He stonewalled a succession of questions from Labour, SNP and Conservative MPs, who demanded to know why they had not been told about the failed test before being asked to renew the £40bn Trident system in a parliamentary vote last July. |
| But as he spoke, CNN published a report citing an unnamed US official, who said the British missile was diverted into the ocean to self-destruct – an automatic procedure when electronics detect an anomaly. | But as he spoke, CNN published a report citing an unnamed US official, who said the British missile was diverted into the ocean to self-destruct – an automatic procedure when electronics detect an anomaly. |
| It prompted a Labour MP to challenge Fallon on why US officials know more than the British public about failed test. | It prompted a Labour MP to challenge Fallon on why US officials know more than the British public about failed test. |
| Mary Creagh asked: “Should we believe the US official who, while we have been sitting here, has confirmed to CNN that the missile auto-self-destructed off the coast of Florida? If that is the case, why is the British parliament and the British public the last people to know?” she said. | Mary Creagh asked: “Should we believe the US official who, while we have been sitting here, has confirmed to CNN that the missile auto-self-destructed off the coast of Florida? If that is the case, why is the British parliament and the British public the last people to know?” she said. |
| Fallon refused to answer, while trying to cast doubt on the accuracy of a Sunday Times story that first revealed that a missile test had gone wrong. It reported that there was a malfunction that may have led the missile to head back towards the US rather than its planned path towards the west coast of Africa. | Fallon refused to answer, while trying to cast doubt on the accuracy of a Sunday Times story that first revealed that a missile test had gone wrong. It reported that there was a malfunction that may have led the missile to head back towards the US rather than its planned path towards the west coast of Africa. |
| Earlier, Fallon told MPs that the government had “absolute faith” in the Trident nuclear deterrent. The defence secretary said people should be cautious about “believing everything in weekend press” – referring to original reports of the missile failure – while refusing to say which elements of the story he believed to be false. | Earlier, Fallon told MPs that the government had “absolute faith” in the Trident nuclear deterrent. The defence secretary said people should be cautious about “believing everything in weekend press” – referring to original reports of the missile failure – while refusing to say which elements of the story he believed to be false. |
| Pressed repeatedly for details about the incident, Fallon said: “I don’t believe in greater transparency to this house when it comes to our nuclear deterrent.” | Pressed repeatedly for details about the incident, Fallon said: “I don’t believe in greater transparency to this house when it comes to our nuclear deterrent.” |
| Both Theresa May and Fallon have been accused of a cover-up because they were briefed about the Trident test before the parliamentary vote on Trident in July. | Both Theresa May and Fallon have been accused of a cover-up because they were briefed about the Trident test before the parliamentary vote on Trident in July. |
| Julian Lewis, the chairman of the Commons defence committee, said May “should probably have spoken up” about any malfunction during last July’s debate and called for the person responsible for keeping it secret to be sacked. | Julian Lewis, the chairman of the Commons defence committee, said May “should probably have spoken up” about any malfunction during last July’s debate and called for the person responsible for keeping it secret to be sacked. |
| UK defence sources have confirmed to the Guardian that the test firing of the Trident 11 D5 ballistic missile had failed but were keen to make the point that it had not been down to a malfunctioning on the part of the missile itself. | UK defence sources have confirmed to the Guardian that the test firing of the Trident 11 D5 ballistic missile had failed but were keen to make the point that it had not been down to a malfunctioning on the part of the missile itself. |
| The finger of blame was pointed at telemetric directional data, which is the information conveyed to the missile needed to hit the target. Such a breakdown could be caused either by an error in manual inputting or a failure of software. | The finger of blame was pointed at telemetric directional data, which is the information conveyed to the missile needed to hit the target. Such a breakdown could be caused either by an error in manual inputting or a failure of software. |
| The missile, which was not carrying a nuclear warhead, was fired by HMS Vengeance, one of the UK’s four nuclear submarines, off the coast of Florida in June last year. The target, as during the previous test in 2012, was in the southern Atlantic off the coast of west Africa but instead the missile headed off in the direction of the US and the test was aborted. | The missile, which was not carrying a nuclear warhead, was fired by HMS Vengeance, one of the UK’s four nuclear submarines, off the coast of Florida in June last year. The target, as during the previous test in 2012, was in the southern Atlantic off the coast of west Africa but instead the missile headed off in the direction of the US and the test was aborted. |
| This was the UK’s 11th test since 1994 with the other 10 all successfully completed. The UK carries out fewer tests than the US on grounds of cost: each missile costs £17m. But the US, which has conducted an estimated 150 successful tests, shares data from its tests with the UK. | This was the UK’s 11th test since 1994 with the other 10 all successfully completed. The UK carries out fewer tests than the US on grounds of cost: each missile costs £17m. But the US, which has conducted an estimated 150 successful tests, shares data from its tests with the UK. |
| The test-firing was intended to mark the return to duty of HMS Vengeance after a four-year refit. In spite of the malfunction, HMS Vengeance received the certification saying it was fully operational the same month, enabling it to return to service. The Ministry of Defence has cited this as evidence that the malfunction was not significant. | The test-firing was intended to mark the return to duty of HMS Vengeance after a four-year refit. In spite of the malfunction, HMS Vengeance received the certification saying it was fully operational the same month, enabling it to return to service. The Ministry of Defence has cited this as evidence that the malfunction was not significant. |
| Russian satellites would have picked up the failed missile test. Russian spy ships normally monitor such tests and the US and UK navies treat their presence as part of the show. After the 2012 missile launch, the UK received a message from one of two Russian spy ships in the vicinity congratulating them on a successful launch. | Russian satellites would have picked up the failed missile test. Russian spy ships normally monitor such tests and the US and UK navies treat their presence as part of the show. After the 2012 missile launch, the UK received a message from one of two Russian spy ships in the vicinity congratulating them on a successful launch. |