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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Scots Labour MPs rebel on Trident | Scots Labour MPs rebel on Trident |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Fifteen Scottish Labour MPs rebelled against the government in a crucial vote on Trident in the Commons. | Fifteen Scottish Labour MPs rebelled against the government in a crucial vote on Trident in the Commons. |
| MPs at Westminster backed government plans to renew the nuclear weapons system, by 409 votes to 161. | MPs at Westminster backed government plans to renew the nuclear weapons system, by 409 votes to 161. |
| However, Prime Minister Tony Blair needed the support of the Tories as 87 Labour MPs voted against ministers. | However, Prime Minister Tony Blair needed the support of the Tories as 87 Labour MPs voted against ministers. |
| All six SNP MPs and 12 Scottish Lib Dems also voted against the motion, meaning that the majority of Scottish MPs rejected Trident's replacement. | All six SNP MPs and 12 Scottish Lib Dems also voted against the motion, meaning that the majority of Scottish MPs rejected Trident's replacement. |
| The submarine fleet which carries the Trident weapons system is based at HMNB Clyde at Faslane. | The submarine fleet which carries the Trident weapons system is based at HMNB Clyde at Faslane. |
| MPs had been asked to back plans to upgrade the fleet. | MPs had been asked to back plans to upgrade the fleet. |
| Ministers claimed the planning process was so long that decisions need to be taken now so that new systems could be in place by 2024. | Ministers claimed the planning process was so long that decisions need to be taken now so that new systems could be in place by 2024. |
| Have your say on Trident | Have your say on Trident |
| Critics accuse them of rushing into a mistake which could cost £25bn. | Critics accuse them of rushing into a mistake which could cost £25bn. |
| One Labour rebel, North Ayrshire and Arran MP Katy Clark, said she did not think spending £20bn on "developing new, more destructive, forms of mass destruction" could be justified. | |
| She said that it was a whipped vote and she suspected there were Labour MPs who did not rebel but did not agree with the government policy. | |
| "I think it is important for the Labour Party and I think it is important for the people of this country that MPs voted with their consciences," Ms Clark said. | |
| SNP leader Alex Salmond said: "The majority of Scottish MPs voted against Trident yet Scotland gets Trident. | SNP leader Alex Salmond said: "The majority of Scottish MPs voted against Trident yet Scotland gets Trident. |
| "Labour have been inextricably damaged tonight, even resorting to sending known anti-nuclear members on foreign jaunts to ensure the replacement of Trident was voted through. | "Labour have been inextricably damaged tonight, even resorting to sending known anti-nuclear members on foreign jaunts to ensure the replacement of Trident was voted through. |
| Rebel Labour MPs Anne Begg (Aberdeen South)Katy Clark (Ayrshire North & Arran)Michael Connarty (Linlithgow & Falkirk East)Ian Davidson (Glasgow South West)Jim Devine (Livingston)Frank Doran (Aberdeen North)Nigel Griffiths (Edinburgh South)David Hamilton (Midlothian)Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North & Leith)James McGovern (Dundee West)Ann McKechin (Glasgow North)David Marshall (Glasgow East)Sandra Osborne (Ayr, Carrick & Cumnock)Mohammad Sarwar (Glasgow Central)Gavin Strang (Edinburgh East) | Rebel Labour MPs Anne Begg (Aberdeen South)Katy Clark (Ayrshire North & Arran)Michael Connarty (Linlithgow & Falkirk East)Ian Davidson (Glasgow South West)Jim Devine (Livingston)Frank Doran (Aberdeen North)Nigel Griffiths (Edinburgh South)David Hamilton (Midlothian)Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North & Leith)James McGovern (Dundee West)Ann McKechin (Glasgow North)David Marshall (Glasgow East)Sandra Osborne (Ayr, Carrick & Cumnock)Mohammad Sarwar (Glasgow Central)Gavin Strang (Edinburgh East) |
| "Why on earth would people in this House want to put the nuclear weapons in a country which could shortly be independent?" | "Why on earth would people in this House want to put the nuclear weapons in a country which could shortly be independent?" |
| Scottish Greens speaker on nuclear issues Chris Ballance MSP, said: "Ministers have not even specified under which circumstances these illegal weapons would be needed, yet they are prepared to waste £80bn on a Trident replacement. | Scottish Greens speaker on nuclear issues Chris Ballance MSP, said: "Ministers have not even specified under which circumstances these illegal weapons would be needed, yet they are prepared to waste £80bn on a Trident replacement. |
| "This money could and should be put to any number of better uses such as fighting the real threat to the UK, climate change." | "This money could and should be put to any number of better uses such as fighting the real threat to the UK, climate change." |
| Even though defence is a reserved issue, nuclear weapons could well become an issue in the Holyrood elections which are now just 50 days away. | Even though defence is a reserved issue, nuclear weapons could well become an issue in the Holyrood elections which are now just 50 days away. |
| 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 works | 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 works |
| Earlier in the day demonstrators climbed onto the roof of the Scottish Parliament as part of their protest over the Trident vote. | Earlier in the day demonstrators climbed onto the roof of the Scottish Parliament as part of their protest over the Trident vote. |
| Five protesters were arrested at Holyrood and another four were detained at the Faslane naval base after they tried to block the entrance. | Five protesters were arrested at Holyrood and another four were detained at the Faslane naval base after they tried to block the entrance. |
| Two Scottish members of the UK Government - deputy Commons leader Nigel Griffiths and ministerial aide Jim Devine - resigned those positions so they could oppose the move. | Two Scottish members of the UK Government - deputy Commons leader Nigel Griffiths and ministerial aide Jim Devine - resigned those positions so they could oppose the move. |
| Mr Griffiths, the Edinburgh South MP, told the Commons during the Trident debate that Britain must lead the world in eradicating the nuclear threat. | Mr Griffiths, the Edinburgh South MP, told the Commons during the Trident debate that Britain must lead the world in eradicating the nuclear threat. |
| He said that after much reflection he could not bring himself to vote with the government. | He said that after much reflection he could not bring himself to vote with the government. |