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| Russell Brand Trident attack prompts invitation to Barrow | Russell Brand Trident attack prompts invitation to Barrow |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Comedian Russell Brand has been invited to face shipyard workers after saying the Trident replacement programme they are working on should be scrapped. | Comedian Russell Brand has been invited to face shipyard workers after saying the Trident replacement programme they are working on should be scrapped. |
| He posted a video online saying too much money was spent on defence and it should go to the NHS instead. | He posted a video online saying too much money was spent on defence and it should go to the NHS instead. |
| New submarines carrying nuclear weapons are being designed at BAE Systems in Barrow, Cumbria. | New submarines carrying nuclear weapons are being designed at BAE Systems in Barrow, Cumbria. |
| Barrow Labour MP John Woodcock said he would rather be protected by a nuclear deterrent than an "eccentric comedian". | Barrow Labour MP John Woodcock said he would rather be protected by a nuclear deterrent than an "eccentric comedian". |
| In his own online video he said: "This is a substantial investment, but the overall majority of this goes on employing the many thousands of the most highly-skilled engineers and manufacturers. | In his own online video he said: "This is a substantial investment, but the overall majority of this goes on employing the many thousands of the most highly-skilled engineers and manufacturers. |
| "I want us to have more to be able to defend this country than a sharp-witted, eccentric comedian. | |
| "Come to Barrow and meet some of this workforce. Let's do this thing properly." | "Come to Barrow and meet some of this workforce. Let's do this thing properly." |
| Brand had asked how the country could have a "properly-funded NHS". | Brand had asked how the country could have a "properly-funded NHS". |
| "Is it at the expense of the arms industry? The answer is obviously yes," he said. | "Is it at the expense of the arms industry? The answer is obviously yes," he said. |
| "As the NHS struggles against a £2bn funding gap this year the money diverted into Trident - £3.3bn being spent in the assessment phase, not to mention the £2-3bn we spend every year just running our current Trident system - reflects the choice our government has made." | "As the NHS struggles against a £2bn funding gap this year the money diverted into Trident - £3.3bn being spent in the assessment phase, not to mention the £2-3bn we spend every year just running our current Trident system - reflects the choice our government has made." |
| He appeared to be quoting a New Statesman article by Kate Hudson from the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament in part of what he said. | He appeared to be quoting a New Statesman article by Kate Hudson from the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament in part of what he said. |
| Brand was unavailable for comment on Mr Woodcock's remarks and BAE declined to comment. | Brand was unavailable for comment on Mr Woodcock's remarks and BAE declined to comment. |
| The firm's Barrow shipyard employs about 6,900 people. Around 1,400 of those are currently working on the Trident replacement programme. | |
| The government has put the cost of replacing Trident at £15-20bn, but campaigners have argued it will cost at least £34bn. | The government has put the cost of replacing Trident at £15-20bn, but campaigners have argued it will cost at least £34bn. |
| The replacement submarines are expected to come into operation in 2028. | The replacement submarines are expected to come into operation in 2028. |