Stephen Williams' views on the replacement of Trident
The issue of nuclear non-proliferation is a long standing interest of mine. If we are to even begin to establish peace and long term security around the world we must work towards the eventual elimination of nuclear arms.
Trident, Britain's nuclear missile system, is expected to reach the end of its working life in the next 20 years. The Government has already announced plans to spend £20 billion on replacing the system. The Liberal Democrats believe that plans of this magnitude should not be rushed. They are costly, controversial, and involve the most destructive weapons in the world. The rush by Labour to come to a decision on Trident is unjustified and shameful, and immensely dangerous too. They are trying to push MPs into voting to replace the system after an unsatisfactory period of consultation on this important issue.
There is a clear need for open and in-depth debate on the subject before any plans for replacement or upgrade are put into effect, and I regret the fact that the Government has so far been reluctant to facilitate such a debate. However, their decision to delay the start of the replacement programme until after May 2010 is an encouraging start. In 2006 I signed Early Day Motion 2703, tabled by Lib Dem Norman Baker MP, which states that 'there should be a full public and parliamentary debate prior to any decision to replace Trident', and points out that the Trident weapons system could cost us over £76 billion during its 30 year life.
My personal position is that Britain does not need to be a member of the nuclear club at all, and we should not replace or upgrade Trident. Recent polls show a majority of the public oppose the UK's continued possession of nuclear weapons. The world is a very different place compared to 20 years ago and the need for a nuclear missile system has passed. Trident has recently been described by several former generals in the Armed Forces as 'militarily useless'. It is a prohibitively expensive and unnecessary measure, and in the long run will only serve to undermine the security of the wider international community.
I have signed Early Day Motion 129, which calls for 'our unequivocal undertaking to accomplish the elimination of nuclear arsenals,' and calls upon the Government to abandon any plans to build a successor to the existing Trident nuclear missile, since such plans are entirely incompatible with the goal of nuclear disarmament. I also signed EDM 2575, which requests that the Government publish a range of options concerning the future of nuclear weapons in this country, a future that must adhere to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The UK was a founding member of this treaty, which invokes an ultimate aim of 'general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control'. Replacing the Trident system is clearly counterproductive to achieving this goal. We should not be afraid to follow our convictions and take a stance on these issues of international importance.
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