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Brown move to cut UK nuclear subs Brown move to cut UK nuclear subs
(about 4 hours later)
The prime minister is to tell the United Nations that he is willing to cut the UK's fleet of Trident missile-carrying submarines from four to three.The prime minister is to tell the United Nations that he is willing to cut the UK's fleet of Trident missile-carrying submarines from four to three.
Gordon Brown will make the offer at a meeting of the UN Security Council on halting the spread of nuclear weapons and reducing existing stockpiles.Gordon Brown will make the offer at a meeting of the UN Security Council on halting the spread of nuclear weapons and reducing existing stockpiles.
The proposed cuts come as the government searches for ways to reduce the massive deficit in public finances.The proposed cuts come as the government searches for ways to reduce the massive deficit in public finances.
However Number 10 said keeping the UK's nuclear missiles was "non-negotiable".However Number 10 said keeping the UK's nuclear missiles was "non-negotiable".
At the UN meeting, Mr Brown will call for all nations to come together to achieve the long-term ambition of a nuclear-free world.At the UN meeting, Mr Brown will call for all nations to come together to achieve the long-term ambition of a nuclear-free world.
He will say: "If we are serious about the ambition of a nuclear-free world we will need statesmanship, not brinkmanship."He will say: "If we are serious about the ambition of a nuclear-free world we will need statesmanship, not brinkmanship."
Nuclear warheadsNuclear warheads
US President Barack Obama is chairing the meeting as part of the process of drawing up a replacement for the Non-Proliferation Treaty, designed to stop countries developing nuclear weapons.US President Barack Obama is chairing the meeting as part of the process of drawing up a replacement for the Non-Proliferation Treaty, designed to stop countries developing nuclear weapons.
David Miliband: "The long-term aim is a world free of nuclear weapons"David Miliband: "The long-term aim is a world free of nuclear weapons"
He has said he will try to negotiate with Moscow to reduce US and Russian nuclear warheads - which make up the vast majority of the world's total - from more than 2,000 each to 1,500.He has said he will try to negotiate with Moscow to reduce US and Russian nuclear warheads - which make up the vast majority of the world's total - from more than 2,000 each to 1,500.
The UK government says it has cut its stockpile of Trident warheads from 200 to 160 but many Labour MPs would like it to scrap the weapons altogether.The UK government says it has cut its stockpile of Trident warheads from 200 to 160 but many Labour MPs would like it to scrap the weapons altogether.
However, Mr Brown told BBC Radio 5 Live that there were "no proposals at the moment about warheads".However, Mr Brown told BBC Radio 5 Live that there were "no proposals at the moment about warheads".
The government estimates the cost of renewing Trident at about £20bn but Greenpeace says it could cost £34bn and, once lifetime running costs are included, would cost nearly £100bn in total.The government estimates the cost of renewing Trident at about £20bn but Greenpeace says it could cost £34bn and, once lifetime running costs are included, would cost nearly £100bn in total.
Professor Ron Smith, a defence economist at Birkbeck College, told the BBC that reducing the number of submarines would probably have little effect on Britain's nuclear capability because one was essentially "a spare".Professor Ron Smith, a defence economist at Birkbeck College, told the BBC that reducing the number of submarines would probably have little effect on Britain's nuclear capability because one was essentially "a spare".
The four Vanguard submarines which host Trident missiles can attack targets within a range of just over 4,600 miles (7,400km). The example above shows this range if the sub were located in the mid-Atlantic.Britain keeps at least one submarine armed and at sea at all times. Normally, the remaining three - or two, should one be scrapped - will be undergoing maintenance, taking part in training exercises, or docked at port. Send us your commentsThe four Vanguard submarines which host Trident missiles can attack targets within a range of just over 4,600 miles (7,400km). The example above shows this range if the sub were located in the mid-Atlantic.Britain keeps at least one submarine armed and at sea at all times. Normally, the remaining three - or two, should one be scrapped - will be undergoing maintenance, taking part in training exercises, or docked at port. Send us your comments
He added that losing one submarine would only save "a couple of billion" in about 2020 as there were a lot of fixed costs upfront and each boat cost less to build than the last one.He added that losing one submarine would only save "a couple of billion" in about 2020 as there were a lot of fixed costs upfront and each boat cost less to build than the last one.
At-sea patrolsAt-sea patrols
Foreign Secretary David Miliband added: "We reject unilateral nuclear disarmament for ourselves precisely because the world cannot end up in a situation where responsible powers get rid of their weapons, but the danger of nuclear proliferation by other powers remains."Foreign Secretary David Miliband added: "We reject unilateral nuclear disarmament for ourselves precisely because the world cannot end up in a situation where responsible powers get rid of their weapons, but the danger of nuclear proliferation by other powers remains."
But the former defence secretary John Hutton, in whose Barrow and Furness constituency the submarines are built, said it was "very very important" that Britain could have "absolute confidence and the knowledge that we can maintain one of those submarines - at least one of those submarines - on continuous deterrent patrol".But the former defence secretary John Hutton, in whose Barrow and Furness constituency the submarines are built, said it was "very very important" that Britain could have "absolute confidence and the knowledge that we can maintain one of those submarines - at least one of those submarines - on continuous deterrent patrol".
"You have got to have cover all the time every single day of the year and that's what a continuous at-sea deterrent is about and we have not found a way of doing that with less than four boats - and no other Navy has either," he told the BBC."You have got to have cover all the time every single day of the year and that's what a continuous at-sea deterrent is about and we have not found a way of doing that with less than four boats - and no other Navy has either," he told the BBC.
We should only proceed on that basis if we are absolutely sure that three boats gives us the confidence of having an ability to maintain a continuous deterrent patrol John HuttonFormer defence secretary Q&A: Trident replacementWe should only proceed on that basis if we are absolutely sure that three boats gives us the confidence of having an ability to maintain a continuous deterrent patrol John HuttonFormer defence secretary Q&A: Trident replacement
The existing Trident submarines are housed at the Faslane naval base on the Clyde, but the Scottish National Party has firmly opposed their replacement.The existing Trident submarines are housed at the Faslane naval base on the Clyde, but the Scottish National Party has firmly opposed their replacement.
Defence spokesman Angus Robertson said: "Any way you look at it - on moral, economic or political grounds - renewal of this nuclear system is untenable."Defence spokesman Angus Robertson said: "Any way you look at it - on moral, economic or political grounds - renewal of this nuclear system is untenable."
'Tinkering''Tinkering'
Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox said reducing the number of submarines was not a new idea as it was an option set out in the government's 2006 White Paper.Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox said reducing the number of submarines was not a new idea as it was an option set out in the government's 2006 White Paper.
He told the BBC: "If we can maintain our nuclear deterrent and make a contribution to disarmament that's all very well but the prime minister is not planning to reduce the number of warheads from 160 ... merely to have them in fewer submarines."He told the BBC: "If we can maintain our nuclear deterrent and make a contribution to disarmament that's all very well but the prime minister is not planning to reduce the number of warheads from 160 ... merely to have them in fewer submarines."
He said it was "reasonable and sensible" to look at doing that if the technology was available to make it possible.He said it was "reasonable and sensible" to look at doing that if the technology was available to make it possible.
The Liberal Democrats say they would not seek a "like-for-like replacement" for Trident - which is due to need replacing by 2024.The Liberal Democrats say they would not seek a "like-for-like replacement" for Trident - which is due to need replacing by 2024.
Leader Nick Clegg said it was good the prime minister had acknowledged the need for alternatives to a "like-for-like" replacement but he might have to go "a lot further".Leader Nick Clegg said it was good the prime minister had acknowledged the need for alternatives to a "like-for-like" replacement but he might have to go "a lot further".
However the party's foreign affairs spokesman Edward Davey told the BBC that the suggestion "looks like tinkering at the edges" of the nuclear weapons issue.However the party's foreign affairs spokesman Edward Davey told the BBC that the suggestion "looks like tinkering at the edges" of the nuclear weapons issue.
Kate Hudson, chairwoman of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), said the proposals were "a serious and positive first step towards the scrapping of both the current Trident nuclear weapons system and its replacement".Kate Hudson, chairwoman of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), said the proposals were "a serious and positive first step towards the scrapping of both the current Trident nuclear weapons system and its replacement".
But she said the ultimate goal should be total disarmament.But she said the ultimate goal should be total disarmament.
All numbers are estimates because exact numbers are top secret. Strategic nuclear warheads are designed to target cities, missile locations and military headquarters as part of a strategic plan. Israel Israeli authorities have never confirmed or denied the country has nuclear weapons. North Korea The highly secretive state claims it has nuclear weapons, but there is no information in the public domain that proves this. Iran The International Atomic Energy Agency reported in 2003 there had been covert nuclear activity to make fissile material and continues to monitor Tehran's nuclear program. Syria US officials have claimed it is covertly seeking nuclear weapons.