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Blair to unveil new Trident plans Blair to unveil new Trident plans
(10 minutes later)
Tony Blair is expected to recommend to Parliament that a new generation of nuclear-powered submarines be built to carry Trident nuclear missiles. Tony Blair is set to recommend that a new generation of submarines be built to carry Trident nuclear missiles.
The plans, in a white paper, may also suggest cutting the size of the submarine fleet from four to three. The Cabinet is currently discussing the plans which are set out in a white paper which Mr Blair is to unveil in the House of Commons later on Monday.
Reducing the stockpile of nuclear warheads may also be recommended - as a gesture to Labour backbench critics. It is believed the plans will see the submarine warhead numbers cut.
The Tories say it would be "crazy" not to have UK nuclear weapons. The Lib Dems want a decision put back to 2014. A number of Labour MPs oppose the plan, but the Tories say it would be "crazy" not to have UK nuclear weapons. The Lib Dems want a decision put back to 2014.
In a world that's becoming increasingly uncertain... it seems crazy for us to say we will have one-sided disarmament Liam FoxShadow defence secretary Send us your commentsIn a world that's becoming increasingly uncertain... it seems crazy for us to say we will have one-sided disarmament Liam FoxShadow defence secretary Send us your comments
Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell also wants the number of UK warheads halved to 100 - a move he said could help kickstart multilateral disarmament.Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell also wants the number of UK warheads halved to 100 - a move he said could help kickstart multilateral disarmament.
The lifespan of the current Trident system is said to end in 2024 and ministers have said a decision is needed now to ensure the replacement is ready by then.The lifespan of the current Trident system is said to end in 2024 and ministers have said a decision is needed now to ensure the replacement is ready by then.
The white paper will be followed by a three-month consultation and MPs' vote. The white paper, which will outline the options and name the government's preferred one, will be followed by a three-month consultation and MPs' vote.
The prime minister and Chancellor Gordon Brown, widely tipped as his successor, have both indicated they support retaining a UK nuclear weapons system. Critics say there should have been consultation before the decision was taken - and also question why the white paper has been printed when the Cabinet has yet to formally approve the plans.
'Nuclear club''Nuclear club'
Mr Blair has said the system - 64 missiles based on four nuclear submarines - is an essential part of Britain's ability to defend itself. Mr Blair's official spokesman said the Cabinet had previously discussed elements of the decision, and a series of one-to-one meetings had been held.
The white paper will outline various options, before naming the preferred option, which will be consulted on for three months before MPs vote on it early next year. He added that as it was "one of the most serious decisions any government can take... it's right and proper that the government takes on itself the duty to put a firm proposal to Parliament and for Parliament to vote on that".
Mr Blair says the system - 64 missiles based on four nuclear submarines - is an essential part of Britain's ability to defend itself.
TRIDENT MISSILE SYSTEM Missile length: 44ft (13m)Weight: 130,000lb (58,500kg)Diameter: 74 inches (1.9m)Range: More than 4,600 miles (7,400km)Power plant: Three stage solid propellant rocketCost: £16.8m ($29.1m) per missile Source: Federation of American Scientists How Trident worksTRIDENT MISSILE SYSTEM Missile length: 44ft (13m)Weight: 130,000lb (58,500kg)Diameter: 74 inches (1.9m)Range: More than 4,600 miles (7,400km)Power plant: Three stage solid propellant rocketCost: £16.8m ($29.1m) per missile Source: Federation of American Scientists How Trident works
Defence chiefs are understood to have ruled out basing a new weapons system on land or planes.Defence chiefs are understood to have ruled out basing a new weapons system on land or planes.
Instead Mr Blair is expected to say, when he unveils the white paper to MPs in the Commons at about 1540 GMT, he backs a new generation of submarines able to carry both the existing Trident missiles and any successor missile.Instead Mr Blair is expected to say, when he unveils the white paper to MPs in the Commons at about 1540 GMT, he backs a new generation of submarines able to carry both the existing Trident missiles and any successor missile.
Officials have dismissed reports that the new generation of missiles would be built abroad.Officials have dismissed reports that the new generation of missiles would be built abroad.
Critics argue that a Trident-type system is outdated now that the Cold War is over. The issue has divided Labour MPs.Critics argue that a Trident-type system is outdated now that the Cold War is over. The issue has divided Labour MPs.
Former defence minister Peter Kilfoyle told the BBC it was a "very inopportune moment" to replace Trident. Former defence minister Peter Kilfoyle told the BBC it was a "very inopportune moment" to replace Trident, adding: "We don't need to rush to some kind of decision over the next few months as appears to be the government's wish."
He told BBC Radio 4's The World This Weekend: "We need a full and protracted debate. We don't need to rush to some kind of decision over the next few months as appears to be the government's wish."
'Crazy''Crazy'
Critics believe the estimated £10-25bn cost would be better spent elsewhere - saying Trident was designed for the Cold War era, not the current threats to the UK such as international terrorism.Critics believe the estimated £10-25bn cost would be better spent elsewhere - saying Trident was designed for the Cold War era, not the current threats to the UK such as international terrorism.
Kate Hudson, from the anti-nuclear pressure group, CND, told BBC Five Live: "If we go ahead with developing new nuclear weapons, we can be absolutely certain that many other countries will proliferate nuclear weapons and we are going to end up with a situation of nuclear war."Kate Hudson, from the anti-nuclear pressure group, CND, told BBC Five Live: "If we go ahead with developing new nuclear weapons, we can be absolutely certain that many other countries will proliferate nuclear weapons and we are going to end up with a situation of nuclear war."
But for the Conservatives, shadow defence secretary Liam Fox said: "In a world that's becoming increasingly uncertain - where countries like North Korea are developing nuclear weapons - where countries like Iran are trying to develop nuclear weapons - it seems crazy for us to say we will have one-sided disarmament."But for the Conservatives, shadow defence secretary Liam Fox said: "In a world that's becoming increasingly uncertain - where countries like North Korea are developing nuclear weapons - where countries like Iran are trying to develop nuclear weapons - it seems crazy for us to say we will have one-sided disarmament."
He said the decision was about protecting the UK from 2025 to 2050: "We don't know what we will face at that time. One thing we know is that you can't suddenly conjure up a nuclear deterrent if you require it."He said the decision was about protecting the UK from 2025 to 2050: "We don't know what we will face at that time. One thing we know is that you can't suddenly conjure up a nuclear deterrent if you require it."