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Sir Menzies wins vote on Trident Sir Menzies wins vote on Trident
(30 minutes later)
Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell has seen off a grassroots challenge to his policy of delaying a decision on replacing Trident nuclear weapons. A personal appeal by Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell has helped him win a narrow victory over Trident rebels at his party's spring conference.
He won a vote at the party's spring conference by the narrowest of margins after making a personal appeal to activists in an impassioned speech. Sir Menzies appeared on stage to defend his policy of delaying a decision on replacing Britain's nuclear weapons.
Opponents wanted Trident to be scrapped when it reaches the end of its life. Opponents, including some of his own MPs, wanted Trident to be scrapped when it reaches the end of its life.
However, Sir Menzies wants the number of warheads to be halved now but a decision on replacing them delayed. Sir Menzies wants the number of warheads cut by 50% now but a decision on replacing them delayed to 2014.
Sir Menzies won the vote by 454 votes to 414, after an initial show of hands had been too close to call. He won the vote by 454 votes to 414, after an initial show of hands had been too close to call.
The result will come as a boost to Sir Menzies, with party managers saying afterwards that opponents of the party line would probably have won without his intervention. The result will come as a boost to the Lib Dem leader, who has faced questions about his style of leadership
Sir Menzies, who had not been due to speak in the debate, said Lib Dem MPs would be voting against government plans to renew Trident whatever happened. Party managers said afterwards Trident rebels would probably have won without his intervention.
Sir Menzies, who had not been due to speak, was called to the stage in stage in Harrogate - to the evident surprise of many delegates - to deny he was "sitting on the fence".
In an impassioned speech, he argued his policy of cutting the number of missiles by half while leading global disarmament talks was the only "rational" approach.
And he said Lib Dem MPs would be voting against government plans to renew Trident whatever happened.
"I only know one way to lead and that is from the front," he told delegates."I only know one way to lead and that is from the front," he told delegates.
Status quoStatus quo
But, far from backing nuclear weapons, his proposals were about disarmament and "about cutting Trident by half now".But, far from backing nuclear weapons, his proposals were about disarmament and "about cutting Trident by half now".
The rebel amendment, on the other hand, would see Britain keeping Trident until it reached the end of its useful life, before scrapping it.The rebel amendment, on the other hand, would see Britain keeping Trident until it reached the end of its useful life, before scrapping it.
"What on earth is radical about preserving the status quo?" he asked delegates. "What on earth is radical about preserving the status quo?" Sir Menzies asked delegates.
He said government plans to renew Trident, at a cost of £65bn, were part of a "desperate attempt" by Tony Blair to "shore up his own legacy".He said government plans to renew Trident, at a cost of £65bn, were part of a "desperate attempt" by Tony Blair to "shore up his own legacy".
And he said Liberal Democrats would not "fall into Blair's trap under any circumstances".And he said Liberal Democrats would not "fall into Blair's trap under any circumstances".
RevoltRevolt
But Sir Menzies said cancelling the replacement for Trident now would do nothing to help the cause of disarmament. Cancelling the replacement for Trident now would do nothing to help the cause of disarmament around the world, he argued.
His proposals were a "rational and perceptive response" to the situation, which would give Britain influence in disarmament talks. But his proposals were a "rational and perceptive response" to the situation, which would give Britain influence in non-proliferation talks.
Sir Menzies was backed by frontbench colleagues Simon Hughes and defence spokesman Nick Harvey, who both spoke in favour of his proposals.Sir Menzies was backed by frontbench colleagues Simon Hughes and defence spokesman Nick Harvey, who both spoke in favour of his proposals.
Speaking afterwards, a clearly relieved Sir Menzies said he was "obviously pleased" with the result, as he believed it was the "right policy".
He told BBC News 24 it was an "indication of the maturity of the party that we could have that debate," something he claimed would not have happened at a Labour or Tory conference.
He said that by "by 2014 we will have a much better idea of the strategic environment and whether nuclear weapons are still necessary," with potential threats from countries such as Iran and North Korea.
The revolt against the official party line was led by senior MP and former frontbench spokesman Phil Willis.The revolt against the official party line was led by senior MP and former frontbench spokesman Phil Willis.
He said the "wait and see" approach would discredit the party, encourage proliferation and tie the UK into US foreign policy.He said the "wait and see" approach would discredit the party, encourage proliferation and tie the UK into US foreign policy.
'No turning back''No turning back'
And he attacked as "pure misrepresentation", the leadership's claims that the amendment would result in Britain keeping Trident for 20 years.And he attacked as "pure misrepresentation", the leadership's claims that the amendment would result in Britain keeping Trident for 20 years.
"What are we waiting for?" he asked activists. "Blair is making the decision not in four years' time or five years' time; he is making the decision this month."What are we waiting for?" he asked activists. "Blair is making the decision not in four years' time or five years' time; he is making the decision this month.
"And once this multi-million pound programme is embarked on there will be no turning back."And once this multi-million pound programme is embarked on there will be no turning back.
"Postponing a decision sends out a clear signal, that our party is prepared to support new improved weapons of mass destruction some time in the future. Is that what this conference wants?"Postponing a decision sends out a clear signal, that our party is prepared to support new improved weapons of mass destruction some time in the future. Is that what this conference wants?
"If the Liberal Democrats are to be relevant, we must be prepared to be different."If the Liberal Democrats are to be relevant, we must be prepared to be different.
"Waiting will not make nuclear weapons less dangerous, nor will it make them more ethical."Waiting will not make nuclear weapons less dangerous, nor will it make them more ethical.
"Waiting will not kick start disarmament, it will encourage proliferation."Waiting will not kick start disarmament, it will encourage proliferation.
"Waiting well not help influence rogue states to give up their nuclear ambitions; why should they respond to a policy of 'do as I say not as I do?'"Waiting well not help influence rogue states to give up their nuclear ambitions; why should they respond to a policy of 'do as I say not as I do?'