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| PM faces nuclear vote rebellion | PM faces nuclear vote rebellion |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Tony Blair may face his biggest Commons rebellion since the start of the Iraq war when MPs vote on plans to renew the UK's Trident nuclear weapons system. | |
| MPs will debate the £20bn plan to replace the submarines which carry the Trident missiles. | MPs will debate the £20bn plan to replace the submarines which carry the Trident missiles. |
| The prime minister has said the UK needs to maintain its deterrent as it is impossible to judge future threats. | The prime minister has said the UK needs to maintain its deterrent as it is impossible to judge future threats. |
| The government is unlikely to lose the vote as the Conservatives have said they will vote with ministers. | The government is unlikely to lose the vote as the Conservatives have said they will vote with ministers. |
| Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox said it was not possible to foretell which other countries, such as Iran and North Korea, could develop nuclear weapons. | Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox said it was not possible to foretell which other countries, such as Iran and North Korea, could develop nuclear weapons. |
| Warheads | Warheads |
| "Therefore, flexibility is key, making sure that we are prepared for all eventualities." | "Therefore, flexibility is key, making sure that we are prepared for all eventualities." |
| Wednesday's debate will be held from 1230GMT to 1900GMT, before a vote is held. | Wednesday's debate will be held from 1230GMT to 1900GMT, before a vote is held. |
| Mr Blair said in December that submarine numbers may be cut from four to three, while the number of nuclear warheads would be cut by 20%. | Mr Blair said in December that submarine numbers may be cut from four to three, while the number of nuclear warheads would be cut by 20%. |
| Greenpeace began a protest a day before the vote | Greenpeace began a protest a day before the vote |
| Between £15bn and £20bn would be spent on new submarines to carry the Trident missiles and the fleet would take 17 years to develop and build, lasting until about 2050. | Between £15bn and £20bn would be spent on new submarines to carry the Trident missiles and the fleet would take 17 years to develop and build, lasting until about 2050. |
| The government's stance prompted two resignations this week - deputy Commons leader Nigel Griffiths and ministerial aide Jim Devine both quit their posts in protest. | The government's stance prompted two resignations this week - deputy Commons leader Nigel Griffiths and ministerial aide Jim Devine both quit their posts in protest. |
| With only three months between the White Paper being announced and the vote, 154 MPs - including more than 80 Labour MPs - have signed a Parliamentary motion calling for a longer period of consultation for all political parties, other interested groups and the public. | With only three months between the White Paper being announced and the vote, 154 MPs - including more than 80 Labour MPs - have signed a Parliamentary motion calling for a longer period of consultation for all political parties, other interested groups and the public. |
| Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell has also signed the motion. | Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell has also signed the motion. |
| His party wants to postpone a decision on Trident until 2014, but the government argues that a decision needs to be taken now as the submarines take so long to build. | His party wants to postpone a decision on Trident until 2014, but the government argues that a decision needs to be taken now as the submarines take so long to build. |
| It is clear to many politicians and to the British public that the case has not been made Kate HudsonCND | It is clear to many politicians and to the British public that the case has not been made Kate HudsonCND |
| Former environment minister, and Labour leadership contender, Michael Meacher is also against the plans. | Former environment minister, and Labour leadership contender, Michael Meacher is also against the plans. |
| "We're in the post cold-war environment, when there is no nuclear enemy in sight and the Ministry of Defence cannot actually suggest any nuclear enemy in the foreseeable future which might require nuclear weapons as a security." | "We're in the post cold-war environment, when there is no nuclear enemy in sight and the Ministry of Defence cannot actually suggest any nuclear enemy in the foreseeable future which might require nuclear weapons as a security." |
| He said the £20bn did not cover the ongoing costs of maintenance over 40 years, which was "probably costing nearer £70 billion". | He said the £20bn did not cover the ongoing costs of maintenance over 40 years, which was "probably costing nearer £70 billion". |
| Fellow would-be leader John McDonnell, who has also signed the amendment, said the vote would be a "defining moment" for the government. | Fellow would-be leader John McDonnell, who has also signed the amendment, said the vote would be a "defining moment" for the government. |
| "It's time for people to stand up and be counted on this issue, and that includes those ministers who we know either do not support [this] or who have serious doubts about the untimely decision-making process the prime minister is forcing on us." | "It's time for people to stand up and be counted on this issue, and that includes those ministers who we know either do not support [this] or who have serious doubts about the untimely decision-making process the prime minister is forcing on us." |
| Protests | Protests |
| The chairwoman of CND, the anti-nuclear pressure group, said the motion with cross-party support indicated "the enormous unity that exists to prevent a rushed decision on Trident." | The chairwoman of CND, the anti-nuclear pressure group, said the motion with cross-party support indicated "the enormous unity that exists to prevent a rushed decision on Trident." |
| Kate Hudson said: "It is clear to many politicians and to the British public that the case has not been made." | Kate Hudson said: "It is clear to many politicians and to the British public that the case has not been made." |
| Various protests are planned to coincide with the debate, with protesters from environmental group Greenpeace scaling a crane positioned next to Parliament on the Thames on Tuesday to unfurl a banner. | Various protests are planned to coincide with the debate, with protesters from environmental group Greenpeace scaling a crane positioned next to Parliament on the Thames on Tuesday to unfurl a banner. |
| Union leaders added their voice to the protests. | Union leaders added their voice to the protests. |
| The general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union, Bob Crow, said spending billions on weapons to "help destroy" the world was at odds with the Climate Change Bill, published on Tuesday, to save the environment. | The general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union, Bob Crow, said spending billions on weapons to "help destroy" the world was at odds with the Climate Change Bill, published on Tuesday, to save the environment. |
| "The £75 billion that could be wasted on new Trident could go a long way to helping Britain reduce carbon emissions, build some of the transport infrastructure we desperately need, and bolster our public services," he said. | "The £75 billion that could be wasted on new Trident could go a long way to helping Britain reduce carbon emissions, build some of the transport infrastructure we desperately need, and bolster our public services," he said. |
| Labour rebels have staged a series of revolts since Tony Blair came to power in 1997, although the government has suffered only four defeats. | |
| The biggest rebellion was over Iraq in March 2003, when 138 Labour MPs, including the then Leader of the House, Robin Cook, supported a rebel amendment opposing the decision to go to war. |