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Ministers face Trident rebellion Ministers face Trident rebellion
(10 minutes later)
Ministers are facing a possible Labour rebellion over plans to renew the UK's nuclear weapons system.Ministers are facing a possible Labour rebellion over plans to renew the UK's nuclear weapons system.
MPs will vote on Wednesday on the government's £20bn plans to replace the Clyde-based Trident system.MPs will vote on Wednesday on the government's £20bn plans to replace the Clyde-based Trident system.
A BBC survey of Labour backbenchers found 64 out of 101 MPs opposed renewal. One ministerial aide has said he will resign over the issue. A BBC survey of Labour backbenchers found 64 out of 101 who responded opposed renewal. One ministerial aide has said he will resign over the issue.
But Defence Secretary Des Browne said he was "confident we will persuade people to come to our side".But Defence Secretary Des Browne said he was "confident we will persuade people to come to our side".
Lack of supportLack of support
The survey for the BBC's The World This Weekend found that out of the 101 Labour MPs who responded, 22 said they supported the renewal of Trident.The survey for the BBC's The World This Weekend found that out of the 101 Labour MPs who responded, 22 said they supported the renewal of Trident.
A total of 64 said they opposed it, and a further 15 were still undecided.A total of 64 said they opposed it, and a further 15 were still undecided.
This could mean the government will have to rely on the votes of the Conservatives to carry Wednesday's motion to determine whether a new generation of nuclear submarines is acquired and the Trident D5 missiles updated.This could mean the government will have to rely on the votes of the Conservatives to carry Wednesday's motion to determine whether a new generation of nuclear submarines is acquired and the Trident D5 missiles updated.
There's increasing sentiment in parliament that this decision is being railroaded through CND chairwoman Kate Hudson Some people feel they are prisoners of the position that the party had before it changed in the 1980s Des Browne, Defence Secretary
Mr Browne told BBC One's The Politics Show the UK had an "obligation" to retain a deterrent as part of its membership of Nato.Mr Browne told BBC One's The Politics Show the UK had an "obligation" to retain a deterrent as part of its membership of Nato.
He said: "It's not nearly as straightforward as people suggest. They sleep soundly in their beds at night because we have nuclear weapons."He said: "It's not nearly as straightforward as people suggest. They sleep soundly in their beds at night because we have nuclear weapons."
Mr Browne added: "Some people feel they are prisoners of the position that the party had before it changed in the 1980s [which was one of unilateral nuclear disarmament]."Mr Browne added: "Some people feel they are prisoners of the position that the party had before it changed in the 1980s [which was one of unilateral nuclear disarmament]."
He went on: "I'm still confident we will persuade people to come to our side of the argument."He went on: "I'm still confident we will persuade people to come to our side of the argument."
'Substantial support''Substantial support'
Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer told BBC One's Sunday AM show: "There will be people who take a different view, but I hope we demonstrate that we are broadly unified on the way to go forward."Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer told BBC One's Sunday AM show: "There will be people who take a different view, but I hope we demonstrate that we are broadly unified on the way to go forward."
He added: "I'm sure we will get very substantial support on the Labour benches."He added: "I'm sure we will get very substantial support on the Labour benches."
But Livingston MP Jim Devine, who is parliamentary private secretary to health minister Rosie Winterton, has indicated he will resign before the Commons vote. Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox said the Conservatives were supporting a replacement for Trident to ensure the UK was "prepared for all eventualities".
And the chairwoman of CND, Kate Hudson, told the BBC there could be other resignations. He added: "We think the government's decision on Trident is the right one.
"There's increasing sentiment in parliament that this decision is being railroaded through and that the promised consultation which the prime minister spoke of last year hasn't actually taken place," she said. "We think we need to make an early decision for a number of reasons.
The Scottish National Party is also urging ministers not to base the replacement in Scotland. "And when the government is doing the right thing in terms of national security we think they should get the support of the opposition."
Liberal Democrat defence spokesman Nick Harvey said: "The Tories are making it too easy for Blair and Brown to put this issue to bed before the handover.
"I understand that the Tories support Trident's replacement, but surely even they can see that the final decision will not be made until 2012 -14. That¿s when Parliament should make its decision."
'Loom large'
Livingston Labour MP Jim Devine, who is parliamentary private secretary to health minister Rosie Winterton, has indicated he will resign before the Commons vote.
Meanwhile, the Scottish National Party is urging ministers not to base the replacement in Scotland.
Leader Alex Salmond said Mr Devine's resignation would signal a Labour split.Leader Alex Salmond said Mr Devine's resignation would signal a Labour split.
"The government's Trident replacement policy will loom large over a divided Labour party in Scotland in May," he said."The government's Trident replacement policy will loom large over a divided Labour party in Scotland in May," he said.
"This resignation underscores that reality." Mr Salmond cited a government White Paper which states £1bn a year over a period of 15 years will have to be raised from the Treasury budget or from new taxes.
Mr Salmond called on the government not to base the proposed Trident replacement in Scotland. Labour leadership contender Michael Meacher said he would order a new vote on Trident after a "full and proper" public consultation if he won his bid to succeed Tony Blair as prime minister.
He said new research showed that the multi-billion pound plans would cost jobs. The former environment minister said the government was trying to "bounce" MPs into accepting a replacement.
He cited a government White Paper which states £1bn a year over a period of 15 years will have to be raised from the Treasury budget or from new taxes.
Some £85m would come from north of the border, Mr Salmond claimed - the equivalent of more than 3,000 public sector jobs.
Consultation 'needed'
Meanwhile, Labour leadership contender Michael Meacher said he would order a new vote on Trident after a "full and proper" public consultation if he won his bid to succeed Tony Blair as prime minister.
The former environment minister said the government was trying to "bounce" MPs into accepting a replacement in Wednesday's vote.
He said: "By fixing the vote in the Commons next Wednesday, No 10 is bouncing parliament into a momentous decision years before expert opinion says that is necessary."