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UK nuclear weapons plan unveiled UK nuclear weapons plan unveiled
(40 minutes later)
Tony Blair has told MPs it would be "unwise and dangerous" for the UK to give up its nuclear weapons.Tony Blair has told MPs it would be "unwise and dangerous" for the UK to give up its nuclear weapons.
The prime minister outlined plans to build a new generation of submarines to carry Trident missiles. The prime minister outlined plans to spend up to £20bn on a new generation of submarines for Trident missiles.
He said submarine numbers may be cut from four to three, while the number of nuclear warheads will be cut by 20%.He said submarine numbers may be cut from four to three, while the number of nuclear warheads will be cut by 20%.
Mr Blair said although the Cold War had ended the UK needed nuclear weapons as no-one could be sure another nuclear threat would not emerge in the future.Mr Blair said although the Cold War had ended the UK needed nuclear weapons as no-one could be sure another nuclear threat would not emerge in the future.
In a world that's becoming increasingly uncertain... it seems crazy for us to say we will have one-sided disarmament Liam FoxShadow defence secretary Send us your comments I am sure many Labour MPs will be extremely angry because it is clear the prime minister has set out a pre-determined timetable Kate HudsonCND Send us your comments href="/1/hi/uk_politics/6207148.stm" class="">Key points: Blair on Trident
He said the options of changing to a land-based, or air-based nuclear weapons system had been considered and ruled out.He said the options of changing to a land-based, or air-based nuclear weapons system had been considered and ruled out.
Mr Blair also said the new submarines would be built in the UK. Instead the system would remain one based on a fleet of submarines which carry the Trident missiles, each of which can be fitted with a number of nuclear warheads.
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. Mr Blair said between £15bn and £20bn would be spent on new submarines to carry the Trident missiles. The submarines would take 17 years to develop and build, and would last until about 2050.
MPs will vote on the plans in the new year after a three month consultation. He said the UK would also join the US programme to extend the life of the Trident missiles until 2042 - and would then "work with" the US on successor missiles.
Consultation A decision on the nuclear warheads themselves "is not needed now", Mr Blair said, although the white paper said a decision would be needed in the next Parliament.
The current Trident system is due to reach its scheduled end in the early 2020s and Mr Blair said a decision was needed now to ensure the replacement is ready by then. MPs to vote
Mr Blair, who faces some opposition within the Labour Party to the plans, said there were "perfectly respectable" arguments about giving up nuclear weapons.
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 worksTRIDENT 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
Critics say there should have been consultation before the decision was announced in the white paper published on Monday. But he said he had to make a judgement about the country's security and the consequences of misjudgement would be "potentially catastrophic".
But Mr Blair's official spokesman said 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". "The risk of giving up something that has been one of the mainstays of our security since the war... is not a risk I feel I can responsibly take," he said.
Mr Blair says the system - 64 Trident missiles based on four Vanguard-class submarines nuclear submarines - is an essential part of Britain's ability to defend itself. MPs will vote on the plans in March after a period of debate, he said.
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. Conservative leader David Cameron said his party agreed with Mr Blair's position "on substance and on timing".
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 Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell said proper consideration of all relevant factors could only be made, if the decision was postponed until 2014.
Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell wants the number of UK warheads halved to 100 - a move he said could help kickstart multilateral disarmament. He also wants the number of UK warheads halved to 100 - a move he said could help kickstart multilateral disarmament.
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 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
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." Critics believe the money 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.
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." Kate Hudson, from the anti-nuclear pressure group, CND, said she was "very very disappointed" with Mr Blair's announcement.
"He talked vaguely about reducing the number of submarines and warheads but it is not clear what that would mean," she said.
"I am sure many Labour MPs will be extremely angry because it is clear the prime minister has set out a pre-determined timetable."