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Delay in Trident schedule denied Delay in Trident schedule denied
(31 minutes later)
No 10 has insisted the timetable for renewing Trident is unchanged despite official briefings that spending decisions would be delayed until 2010.No 10 has insisted the timetable for renewing Trident is unchanged despite official briefings that spending decisions would be delayed until 2010.
Earlier, officials implied that key decision on the missile system would be put off ahead of a conference on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.Earlier, officials implied that key decision on the missile system would be put off ahead of a conference on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
One official said: "All our deterrent is now up for grabs but in the context of a multilateral negotiation."One official said: "All our deterrent is now up for grabs but in the context of a multilateral negotiation."
Downing Street said there had been "no change" in the government position.Downing Street said there had been "no change" in the government position.
The Ministry of Defence also insisted the policy was unchanged.
The statement from No 10 was issued as the prime minister set out a "road map" for disarmament in which all nuclear states would pledge to reduce their stockpile of warheads.The statement from No 10 was issued as the prime minister set out a "road map" for disarmament in which all nuclear states would pledge to reduce their stockpile of warheads.
Gordon Brown is under pressure over plans to renew the UK's own nuclear weapons.Gordon Brown is under pressure over plans to renew the UK's own nuclear weapons.
The prime minister says he is committed to updating the Trident submarine-based missile system despite its estimated £20bn cost.The prime minister says he is committed to updating the Trident submarine-based missile system despite its estimated £20bn cost.
'Essential element''Essential element'
The decision to postpone spending decisions until after May 2010 would have effectively pushed them up to or beyond the next general election at a time when government finances are extremely tight.The decision to postpone spending decisions until after May 2010 would have effectively pushed them up to or beyond the next general election at a time when government finances are extremely tight.
In briefings, the official stressed that the decision to replace the Trident system had been taken in 2006, but the "world had changed" since then not least with the election of US President Barack Obama, who has made disarmament a priority .In briefings, the official stressed that the decision to replace the Trident system had been taken in 2006, but the "world had changed" since then not least with the election of US President Barack Obama, who has made disarmament a priority .
By the "sequencing of expenditure" on Trident, as the official put it, the decision could essentially be "pushed back".By the "sequencing of expenditure" on Trident, as the official put it, the decision could essentially be "pushed back".
But the official said progress on nuclear disarmament had to be "multilateral" and the goal of a nuclear free world had to be seen as an "aspiration".But the official said progress on nuclear disarmament had to be "multilateral" and the goal of a nuclear free world had to be seen as an "aspiration".
However, Downing Street issued a statement which read: "The policy remains as set out in the 2006 White Paper, and there has been no change to the timetable."However, Downing Street issued a statement which read: "The policy remains as set out in the 2006 White Paper, and there has been no change to the timetable."
A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Defence said: "There has been no change in the government's position on Trident.
"The policy remains as set out in the 2006 white paper, and there has been no change to the timetable."
The series of briefings came as Mr Brown outlined plans to offer assistance to countries such as Iran to develop civil nuclear power in return for assurances they will not build bombs.The series of briefings came as Mr Brown outlined plans to offer assistance to countries such as Iran to develop civil nuclear power in return for assurances they will not build bombs.
Mr Brown has ruled out unilateral cuts to either the Trident submarine fleet or the UK's 160 warheads and has called for collective action to stop nuclear proliferation.Mr Brown has ruled out unilateral cuts to either the Trident submarine fleet or the UK's 160 warheads and has called for collective action to stop nuclear proliferation.
He set out his proposals in a written statement to MPs designed for debate ahead of talks next April designed to pave the way for a review of the International Non-Proliferation Treaty.He set out his proposals in a written statement to MPs designed for debate ahead of talks next April designed to pave the way for a review of the International Non-Proliferation Treaty.
The Lib Dems have called for Trident to be scrapped in favour of a less expensive system while the Conservatives, who support Trident, says its future must be considered as part of a comprehensive defence review.The Lib Dems have called for Trident to be scrapped in favour of a less expensive system while the Conservatives, who support Trident, says its future must be considered as part of a comprehensive defence review.
Some 95 Labour MPs -including 16 former ministers and four ex-members of the cabinet - rebelled against the government during a vote on renewing Trident in 2007.Some 95 Labour MPs -including 16 former ministers and four ex-members of the cabinet - rebelled against the government during a vote on renewing Trident in 2007.
A document released by the Cabinet Office on the same day stated that the government continued to judge "that a minimum nuclear deterrent remains an essential element of our national security".A document released by the Cabinet Office on the same day stated that the government continued to judge "that a minimum nuclear deterrent remains an essential element of our national security".