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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Ministers 'to back nuclear arms' | Ministers 'to back nuclear arms' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A new generation of nuclear weapons is expected to be backed in a government white paper to be published on Monday. | |
| Ministers will outline their preferred option for Britain's nuclear arms capability. The lifespan of the current Trident missile system ends in 2024. | Ministers will outline their preferred option for Britain's nuclear arms capability. The lifespan of the current Trident missile system ends in 2024. |
| The Observer on Sunday reported Tony Blair would pledge to consider reducing both submarines and warheads, in a gesture to Labour's nuclear critics. | The Observer on Sunday reported Tony Blair would pledge to consider reducing both submarines and warheads, in a gesture to Labour's nuclear critics. |
| The white paper will be followed by a three-month consultation and MPs' vote. | The white paper will be followed by a three-month consultation and MPs' vote. |
| Ministers say a decision is needed now on Trident's future, to ensure any replacement is ready by 2024. | Ministers say a decision is needed now on Trident's future, to ensure any replacement is ready by 2024. |
| Trident 'essential' | Trident 'essential' |
| Prime Minister Tony Blair and Chancellor Gordon Brown, widely tipped as his successor, have both indicated they support replacing Trident. | Prime Minister Tony Blair and Chancellor Gordon Brown, widely tipped as his successor, have both indicated they support replacing Trident. |
| Mr Blair has said the system - 64 missiles based on four nuclear submarines - is an essential part of Britain's ability to defend itself. | Mr Blair has said the system - 64 missiles based on four nuclear submarines - is an essential part of Britain's ability to defend itself. |
| 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 |
| The Observer on Sunday reported that Mr Blair would pledge to consider scaling down the submarine fleet to three and to reduce the number of nuclear warheads - to appease opponents of nuclear weapons within the Labour Party. | The Observer on Sunday reported that Mr Blair would pledge to consider scaling down the submarine fleet to three and to reduce the number of nuclear warheads - to appease opponents of nuclear weapons within the Labour Party. |
| But former defence minister Peter Kilfoyle told the BBC it was a "very inopportune moment" to replace Trident. | But former defence minister Peter Kilfoyle told the BBC it was a "very inopportune moment" to replace Trident. |
| "Politically, it is extremely sensitive," he told BBC Radio 4's The World This Weekend. | "Politically, it is extremely sensitive," he told BBC Radio 4's The World This Weekend. |
| "We need a full and protracted debate. We don't need to rush to some kind of decision over the next few months as appears to be the government's wish." | "We need a full and protracted debate. We don't need to rush to some kind of decision over the next few months as appears to be the government's wish." |
| The white paper will give the various options and why they are considered acceptable or not, and MPs will vote on a single recommendation. | The white paper will give the various options and why they are considered acceptable or not, and MPs will vote on a single recommendation. |
| Strange messages | Strange messages |
| Options could include whether to keep a submarine-based system, change to a land-based or aircraft-based system, or possibly to overhaul, rather than replace, the submarine fleet to extend its lifespan further. | Options could include whether to keep a submarine-based system, change to a land-based or aircraft-based system, or possibly to overhaul, rather than replace, the submarine fleet to extend its lifespan further. |
| Supporters argue Trident is needed to deter any threat - particularly at a time when countries like North Korea and Iran harbour their own nuclear ambitions. | Supporters argue Trident is needed to deter any threat - particularly at a time when countries like North Korea and Iran harbour their own nuclear ambitions. |
| Former head of the Royal Navy Admiral Sir Alan West said it would be foolhardy to give up the deterrent of nuclear weapons in an "extremely dangerous" world. | Former head of the Royal Navy Admiral Sir Alan West said it would be foolhardy to give up the deterrent of nuclear weapons in an "extremely dangerous" world. |
| "The messages we would give, I think, by giving it up would be very strange," he told the BBC. | "The messages we would give, I think, by giving it up would be very strange," he told the BBC. |
| But critics say the estimated £10-25bn cost would be better spent elsewhere and Trident was designed for the Cold War, not modern threats of international terrorism. | But critics say the estimated £10-25bn cost would be better spent elsewhere and Trident was designed for the Cold War, not modern threats of international terrorism. |
| The Conservatives support retaining nuclear weapons while the Liberal Democrats have said the number of nuclear warheads should be halved to 100. | The Conservatives support retaining nuclear weapons while the Liberal Democrats have said the number of nuclear warheads should be halved to 100. |
| Anti-nuclear campaigners say they fear the government has already decided to go ahead with replacing Trident. | Anti-nuclear campaigners say they fear the government has already decided to go ahead with replacing Trident. |