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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Blair to unveil new Trident plans | Blair to unveil new Trident plans |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Tony Blair is set to recommend that a new generation of submarines be built to carry Trident nuclear missiles. | Tony Blair is set to recommend that a new generation of submarines be built to carry Trident nuclear missiles. |
| The Cabinet is currently discussing the plans which are set out in a white paper which Mr Blair is to unveil in the House of Commons later on Monday. | The Cabinet is currently discussing the plans which are set out in a white paper which Mr Blair is to unveil in the House of Commons later on Monday. |
| It is believed the plans will see the submarine warhead numbers cut. | It is believed the plans will see the submarine warhead numbers cut. |
| A number of Labour MPs oppose the plan, but the Tories say it would be "crazy" not to have UK nuclear weapons. The Lib Dems want a decision put back to 2014. | A number of Labour MPs oppose the plan, but the Tories say it would be "crazy" not to have UK nuclear weapons. The Lib Dems want a decision put back to 2014. |
| Decision 'needed' | |
| Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell also wants the number of UK warheads halved to 100 - a move he said could help kickstart multilateral disarmament. | Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell also wants the number of UK warheads halved to 100 - a move he said could help kickstart multilateral disarmament. |
| The lifespan of the current Trident system is said to end in 2024 and ministers have said a decision is needed now to ensure the replacement is ready by then. | The lifespan of the current Trident system is said to end in 2024 and ministers have said a decision is needed now to ensure the replacement is ready by then. |
| 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 Send us your comments | |
| The white paper, which will outline the options and name the government's preferred one, will be followed by a three-month consultation and MPs' vote. | The white paper, which will outline the options and name the government's preferred one, will be followed by a three-month consultation and MPs' vote. |
| Critics say there should have been consultation before the decision was taken - and also question why the white paper has been printed when the Cabinet has yet to formally approve the plans. | Critics say there should have been consultation before the decision was taken - and also question why the white paper has been printed when the Cabinet has yet to formally approve the plans. |
| Mr Blair's official spokesman said the Cabinet had previously discussed elements of the decision, and a series of one-to-one meetings had been held. | Mr Blair's official spokesman said the Cabinet had previously discussed elements of the decision, and a series of one-to-one meetings had been held. |
| He added that as it was "one of the most serious decisions any government can take... it's right and proper that the government takes on itself the duty to put a firm proposal to Parliament and for Parliament to vote on that". | He added that as it was "one of the most serious decisions any government can take... it's right and proper that the government takes on itself the duty to put a firm proposal to Parliament and for Parliament to vote on that". |
| Labour divided | |
| Mr Blair says the system - 64 missiles based on four nuclear submarines - is an essential part of Britain's ability to defend itself. | Mr Blair says the system - 64 missiles based on four nuclear submarines - is an essential part of Britain's ability to defend itself. |
| Defence chiefs are understood to have ruled out basing a new weapons system on land or planes. | Defence chiefs are understood to have ruled out basing a new weapons system on land or planes. |
| People across the UK react to Trident plansIn pictures | |
| Instead Mr Blair is expected to say, when he unveils the white paper to MPs in the Commons at about 1540 GMT, he backs a new generation of submarines able to carry both the existing Trident missiles and any successor missile. | Instead Mr Blair is expected to say, when he unveils the white paper to MPs in the Commons at about 1540 GMT, he backs a new generation of submarines able to carry both the existing Trident missiles and any successor missile. |
| Officials have dismissed reports that the new generation of missiles would be built abroad. | Officials have dismissed reports that the new generation of missiles would be built abroad. |
| Critics argue that a Trident-type system is outdated now that the Cold War is over. The issue has divided Labour MPs. | Critics argue that a Trident-type system is outdated now that the Cold War is over. The issue has divided Labour MPs. |
| Former defence minister Peter Kilfoyle told the BBC it was a "very inopportune moment" to replace Trident, adding: "We don't need to rush to some kind of decision over the next few months as appears to be the government's wish." | Former defence minister Peter Kilfoyle told the BBC it was a "very inopportune moment" to replace Trident, adding: "We don't need to rush to some kind of decision over the next few months as appears to be the government's wish." |
| Critics believe the estimated £10-25bn cost would be better spent elsewhere - saying Trident was designed for the Cold War era, not the current threats to the UK such as international terrorism. | Critics believe the estimated £10-25bn cost would be better spent elsewhere - saying Trident was designed for the Cold War era, not the current threats to the UK such as international terrorism. |
| It's hard to see what the point of the Cabinet's discussion was... BBC political editor Nick Robinson Read Nick's thoughts in full Kate Hudson, from the anti-nuclear pressure group, CND, told BBC Five Live: "If we go ahead with developing new nuclear weapons, we can be absolutely certain that many other countries will proliferate nuclear weapons and we are going to end up with a situation of nuclear war." | It's hard to see what the point of the Cabinet's discussion was... BBC political editor Nick Robinson Read Nick's thoughts in full Kate Hudson, from the anti-nuclear pressure group, CND, told BBC Five Live: "If we go ahead with developing new nuclear weapons, we can be absolutely certain that many other countries will proliferate nuclear weapons and we are going to end up with a situation of nuclear war." |
| But for the Conservatives, shadow defence secretary Liam Fox said: "In a world that's becoming increasingly uncertain - where countries like North Korea are developing nuclear weapons - where countries like Iran are trying to develop nuclear weapons - it seems crazy for us to say we will have one-sided disarmament." | But for the Conservatives, shadow defence secretary Liam Fox said: "In a world that's becoming increasingly uncertain - where countries like North Korea are developing nuclear weapons - where countries like Iran are trying to develop nuclear weapons - it seems crazy for us to say we will have one-sided disarmament." |
| He said the decision was about protecting the UK from 2025 to 2050: "We don't know what we will face at that time. One thing we know is that you can't suddenly conjure up a nuclear deterrent if you require it." | He said the decision was about protecting the UK from 2025 to 2050: "We don't know what we will face at that time. One thing we know is that you can't suddenly conjure up a nuclear deterrent if you require it." |