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| Nuclear weapons 'essential to UK' | |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| Tony Blair says it is "essential" the UK begins renewing its nuclear weapons system as soon as possible. | Tony Blair says it is "essential" the UK begins renewing its nuclear weapons system as soon as possible. |
| The prime minister may face his biggest Commons rebellion since the start of the Iraq war when MPs vote on a £20bn plan to replace the Trident system. | The prime minister may face his biggest Commons rebellion since the start of the Iraq war when MPs vote on a £20bn plan to replace the Trident system. |
| About 80 Labour MPs have expressed unease, but defeat is unlikely because the Conservatives back the plans. | About 80 Labour MPs have expressed unease, but defeat is unlikely because the Conservatives back the plans. |
| Mr Blair told the Commons replacing Trident was "in the national interest" and any delay would be "absurd". | Mr Blair told the Commons replacing Trident was "in the national interest" and any delay would be "absurd". |
| 'Uncertain world' | 'Uncertain world' |
| The Commons debate on replacing the submarines which carry the Trident missiles is under way, a vote is due at about 1900 GMT. | |
| Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said large nuclear arsenals still existed around the world and some countries in "unstable" regions were looking to create their own weapons. | |
| Tony Blair is doing Gordon Brown a big favour by staging the vote on Trident at this time BBC's Nick Assinder Analysis: Blair's nuclear gift | Tony Blair is doing Gordon Brown a big favour by staging the vote on Trident at this time BBC's Nick Assinder Analysis: Blair's nuclear gift |
| Opening the debate, she said: "There's the potential for a new nuclear threat to emerge or to re-emerge." | |
| Losing the UK's nuclear deterrent would do the country "a disservice", she added. | |
| Speaking during prime minister's questions earlier, Mr Blair said: "I think it's right we take the decision now to begin work on replacing the Trident nuclear submarines. | |
| "I think that is essential for our security in an uncertain world. | "I think that is essential for our security in an uncertain world. |
| "I believe it is important that we recognise that, although it is impossible to predict the future, the one thing... that is certain, is the unpredictability of it." | "I believe it is important that we recognise that, although it is impossible to predict the future, the one thing... that is certain, is the unpredictability of it." |
| Conservative leader David Cameron agreed, saying: "Replacing Britain's independent nuclear deterrent is clearly in the national interest. The decision needs to be taken now." | Conservative leader David Cameron agreed, saying: "Replacing Britain's independent nuclear deterrent is clearly in the national interest. The decision needs to be taken now." |
| But MPs including Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell and former defence minister Peter Kilfoyle are backing an amendment - thought to have the support of about 80 Labour MPs - saying the case for replacing Trident is "not yet proven" and saying they are "unconvinced of the need for an early decision". | But MPs including Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell and former defence minister Peter Kilfoyle are backing an amendment - thought to have the support of about 80 Labour MPs - saying the case for replacing Trident is "not yet proven" and saying they are "unconvinced of the need for an early decision". |
| The Lib Dems want to postpone a decision until 2014, but the government argues that one needs to be made now as the submarines take so long to build. | The Lib Dems want to postpone a decision until 2014, but the government argues that one needs to be made now as the submarines take so long to build. |
| Sir Menzies told the Commons: "A hasty decision to replace Trident is bound to undermine our ability to have influence at the conference [to reduce nuclear proliferation] in 2010." | Sir Menzies told the Commons: "A hasty decision to replace Trident is bound to undermine our ability to have influence at the conference [to reduce nuclear proliferation] in 2010." |
| 'Design and concept' | 'Design and concept' |
| However, Mr Blair said: "It's absurd to suggest we could simply put off the decision." | However, Mr Blair said: "It's absurd to suggest we could simply put off the decision." |
| Some Labour MPs want an assurance that Parliament will be able to revisit the Trident issue in the future. | Some Labour MPs want an assurance that Parliament will be able to revisit the Trident issue in the future. |
| Mr Blair said that was always a possibility, stressing that Wednesday's vote was for the "design and concept" stage, and Parliament might want to revisit the issue when it comes to contracts being negotiated for the work to take place from around 2012. | Mr Blair said that was always a possibility, stressing that Wednesday's vote was for the "design and concept" stage, and Parliament might want to revisit the issue when it comes to contracts being negotiated for the work to take place from around 2012. |
| See a 360-degree panorama of a Trident submarine control room. | See a 360-degree panorama of a Trident submarine control room. |
| Mr Blair said in December that submarine numbers could 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 could be cut from four to three, while the number of nuclear warheads would be cut by 20%. |
| 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, and would then last 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, and would then last 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. |
| 'No enemy in sight' | 'No enemy in sight' |
| 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 would end up "probably costing nearer £70bn". | He said the £20bn did not cover the ongoing costs of maintenance over 40 years, which would end up "probably costing nearer £70bn". |
| 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. |
| Kate Hudson, chairwoman of CND, the anti-nuclear pressure group, said the motion's cross-party support indicated "the enormous unity that exists to prevent a rushed decision on Trident". | Kate Hudson, chairwoman of CND, the anti-nuclear pressure group, said the motion's cross-party support indicated "the enormous unity that exists to prevent a rushed decision on Trident". |
| Labour rebels have staged a series of revolts since Tony Blair came to power in 1997, although the government has suffered only four defeats. | 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 supported a rebel amendment opposing the decision to go to war. | The biggest rebellion was over Iraq in March 2003, when 138 Labour MPs supported a rebel amendment opposing the decision to go to war. |
| Several protests against replacing nuclear weapons are taking place across the UK. | Several protests against replacing nuclear weapons are taking place across the UK. |
| Several demonstrators earlier climbed onto the roof of the Scottish Parliament. Two people have been arrested. | Several demonstrators earlier climbed onto the roof of the Scottish Parliament. Two people have been arrested. |