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Work on Trident nuclear renewal gets go ahead Work on Trident nuclear renewal gets go ahead
(about 2 hours later)
The defence secretary has given the go-ahead for initial work to begin on the replacement of Britain's Trident nuclear deterrent. The defence secretary has given the go-ahead for initial work to begin on the replacement of Britain's Trident nuclear weapons system.
Liam Fox approved the first stage of design for replacement submarines, saying Trident was the "ultimate guarantee of national security". Liam Fox approved the £3bn first design stage for replacement submarines, saying Trident was the "ultimate guarantee of national security".
The issue has been the subject of tension within the government.The issue has been the subject of tension within the government.
The coalition has delayed the final decision until after the next election amid Lib Dem concerns over its cost.The coalition has delayed the final decision until after the next election amid Lib Dem concerns over its cost.
As progress on Trident renewal gets under way, Dr Fox said the Ministry of Defence would also commission a study into alternative nuclear options to see whether they were "feasible and credible" - to be overseen by Lib Dem Armed Forces minister Nick Harvey. As progress on Trident renewal was confirmed, Dr Fox said the Ministry of Defence would also commission a study into alternative deterrent options to see whether they were "feasible and credible" - to be overseen by Lib Dem Armed Forces minister Nick Harvey.
Shadow Defence Secretary Jim Murphy backed the decision, saying Trident had been a "cornerstone" of the UK's peace and security for more than 50 years.
First phaseFirst phase
The coalition indicated last year that it would delay the "main gate" decision on replacing the UK's four Vanguard submarines until after May 2015 - a move widely seen as easing tensions with the Lib Dems. The coalition indicated last year that it would delay the "main gate" decision on replacing the UK's four Vanguard submarines until 2016 - a year after the expected date of the next election.
This has not changed but Dr Fox said the government's decision to give the green light to the "initial gate" phase would enable ministers to make a final decision after that time. The move was widely seen as an effort to ease tensions with the Lib Dems, who have been sceptical about Trident renewal and argued for other options to be looked at.
While Tuesday's decision has not changed the timetable, Dr Fox said giving the green light to the "initial gate" phase would enable the first submarine to be delivered in 2028, at no additional cost, if ministers ultimately decided to proceed in five years time.
In the first phase, the specialised steel to build the submarines and propulsions systems will be ordered.In the first phase, the specialised steel to build the submarines and propulsions systems will be ordered.
The first stage will cost about £3bn, out of a total expected cost for replacing Trident of about £20bn. This procurement will cost about £3bn, out of a total estimated cost for replacing Trident of up to £20bn.
Dr Fox said that although the UK was committed to securing multilateral nuclear disarmament, the possibility that the UK could face a "direct nuclear threat" in the future could not be ruled out.Dr Fox said that although the UK was committed to securing multilateral nuclear disarmament, the possibility that the UK could face a "direct nuclear threat" in the future could not be ruled out.
"I am absolutely clear that a minimum nuclear deterrent based on the Trident missile delivery system and continuous at sea deterrent is right the UK and it should be maintained." "I am absolutely clear that a minimum nuclear deterrent based on the Trident missile delivery system and continuous at sea deterrent is right the UK and it should be maintained," he added.
Although he said he believed Trident was the "best" system, Dr Fox said he was "not afraid to look at alternatives" and the Lib Dems should be able "to make the case" for it. However, the defence secretary said he was "not afraid to look at alternatives" and the Lib Dems should be able "to make the case" for them. He also insisted he was committed to providing "value for money" for the taxpayer and £3bn in savings had already been found in the renewal process.
He said £3bn in savings had already been found in the renewal process and he was committed to it providing "value for money" for the taxpayer. Tory MPs have been pressing for a decision on the initial gate phase, saying that it would send a clear signal of the UK's determination to maintain an independent nuclear deterrent.
Tory MPs had been pressing for a decision on the initial-gate phase, saying that it would send a clear signal of the UK's determination to maintain an independent nuclear deterrent. 'Insurance policy'
'Insurance policy'
The BBC's Political Correspondent Iain Watson said Lib Dem MPs felt they had kicked Trident renewal into the long grass but were now having to come to terms with substantial spending on its replacement.The BBC's Political Correspondent Iain Watson said Lib Dem MPs felt they had kicked Trident renewal into the long grass but were now having to come to terms with substantial spending on its replacement.
Former Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell pressed Dr Fox to publish the conclusions of the report. Former Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell pressed Dr Fox to publish the conclusions of the MoD report on potential alternatives to Trident.
"May we also take it that if the study produces credible alternatives, in relation procurement and policy, he will take proper account of these alternatives?" "May we also take it that if the study produces credible alternatives, in relation procurement and policy, he will take proper account of these alternatives?" he asked.
But Shadow Defence Secretary Jim Murphy backed the decision, saying Trident had been a "cornerstone" of the UK's peace and security for more than 50 years. For Labour, shadow defence secretary Jim Murphy backed the decision, saying Trident had been a "cornerstone" of the UK's peace and security for nearly 50 years.
Asked about the issue at Prime Minister's Questions by pro-nuclear Tory MP Julian Lewis, David Cameron said he backed renewal of Trident as it was the "ultimate insurance policy against blackmail or attacks by other countries". "As long as there are other countries with such capability it is right the UK retains an independent nuclear deterrent," he told MPs.
The prime minister said the government's policy on Trident was "absolutely clear". 'Virility symbol'
"We are committed to retaining an independent nuclear deterrent based on Trident," he said. Asked about the issue at Prime Minister's questions by pro-nuclear Tory MP Julian Lewis, David Cameron said he backed renewal of Trident as it was the "ultimate insurance policy against blackmail or attacks by other countries".
'Cross-party alliance' Insisting that the government's policy was "absolutely clear", he said it was "committed to retaining an independent nuclear deterrent based on Trident".
Dr Lewis, a frequent critic of the Lib Dems on Trident, urged Mr Cameron to build a cross-party "alliance" of Conservative and Labour MPs to make the case for nuclear deterrent renewal similar to that seen during the recent AV referendum - on which the Conservatives and Lib Dems were on different sides.Dr Lewis, a frequent critic of the Lib Dems on Trident, urged Mr Cameron to build a cross-party "alliance" of Conservative and Labour MPs to make the case for nuclear deterrent renewal similar to that seen during the recent AV referendum - on which the Conservatives and Lib Dems were on different sides.
Mr Cameron said he hoped to "elevate" the issue beyond party political debate and get the support of the opposition for the move, pointing out that the last Labour government had agreed to Trident renewal in 2007.Mr Cameron said he hoped to "elevate" the issue beyond party political debate and get the support of the opposition for the move, pointing out that the last Labour government had agreed to Trident renewal in 2007.
"When we voted to go ahead with Trident, it was on the basis of a Labour motion that was supported by most Labour MPs and, I believe, all Conservative MPs." "When we voted to go ahead with Trident, it was on the basis of a Labour motion that was supported by most Labour MPs and, I believe, all Conservative MPs," he said.
However, Labour MP Paul Flynn said Trident was a "national virility symbol" and had not been used in any conflict for many years and was unlikely to be in future.However, Labour MP Paul Flynn said Trident was a "national virility symbol" and had not been used in any conflict for many years and was unlikely to be in future.
And SNP defence spokesman Angus Robertson said the opinion of people in Scotland - where the Vanguard submarines are currently based at Faslane - was being "totally ignored".
"Majority opinion in Scotland is opposed to Trident, yet the UK government is planning on spending billions of pounds of Scottish taxpayers' money on it," he said.
"Scotland's churches, the Scottish Trade Union Congress and Scottish civic society is also opposed to Trident but the MoD wants to base these weapons of mass destruction in Scotland while cutting conventional defence."