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Trident: Lib Dems and Conservatives at odds over nuclear future Lib Dems accuse Tories of trying to 'rubbish' Trident report
(about 1 hour later)
The Conservatives and Lib Dems are at odds over the future of Trident after a government report set out options for the UK's nuclear weapons system. The coalition parties are at odds after a Lib Dem-prompted government report set out options for replacing the UK's Trident nuclear weapons system.
The Lib Dems favour reducing the number of Vanguard submarines from four to three, saying the existing system was designed for the Cold War era. The Lib Dems favour reducing the number of Vanguard submarines from four now to three, saying the existing system was designed for the Cold War era.
Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said it would be "naive or reckless" not to have a like-for-like replacement.Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said it would be "naive or reckless" not to have a like-for-like replacement.
But Lib Dem Danny Alexander accused him of trying to "rubbish the report".
A final decision on the issue is to be made in 2016, after the next election.A final decision on the issue is to be made in 2016, after the next election.
The UK has had a continuous-at-sea nuclear weapons system, with at least one submarine on patrol at any given time, for more than 40 years and has used the Trident system since the early 1990s.The UK has had a continuous-at-sea nuclear weapons system, with at least one submarine on patrol at any given time, for more than 40 years and has used the Trident system since the early 1990s.
The government review makes no recommendations but set outs a range of options. While the government remains committed to Trident, the coalition partners agreed to undertake a review amid disagreements over future capability and cost.
The review makes no recommendations but set outs a range of options.
Its main findings are:Its main findings are:
The current four-submarine fleet will reach the end of its lifespan in the 2020s. The UK's current four-submarine fleet will reach the end of its lifespan in the 2020s and one of the main arguments surrounds how many "successor" submarines - which take 17 years to build - should be commissioned.
A final decision on whether to renew it has been delayed until 2016 amid differences between the coalition partners. The report suggests four boats would be required to maintain a continuous-at-sea presence and a smaller fleet would risk "multiple unplanned breaks" in 24-hour patrolling and could affect the UK's ability to respond in crises.
The review results from a compromise reached by the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats in the 2010 coalition agreement. It says the UK could still operate a nuclear weapons system with three or even two boats but that would depend on "political confidence" that there was no chance of an unexpected pre-emptive attack and more regular patrols could be reconstituted.
The Conservatives, who support like-for-like renewal, and the Lib Dems, who have long been sceptical, agreed to the value-for-money review to look into other options, including alternative delivery systems and a slimmed-down version of the current system. But Mr Hammond told the BBC that nuclear submarines were the "most complex man-made object on earth" and reducing the numbers available would leave the UK extremely "vulnerable".
But BBC defence correspondent Jonathan Beale says the review does not draw conclusions nor make specific recommendations and will sharpen the divide between the parties in the run-up to the next election.
Critics have questioned whether the UK can continue to pay for Trident in its current form. The government estimates renewal costs will be between £15bn and £20bn but anti-nuclear campaigners say the figure will be much higher.
The Ministry of Defence says the current cost of operating the Trident fleet is about 5% of the annual £34bn defence budget.
Mr Hammond, a Conservative, said the next generation of Trident would last until the 2060s and would "protect our children and our grandchildren".
He told the BBC that nuclear submarines were the "most complex man-made object on earth" and reducing the numbers available would leave the UK extremely "vulnerable".
"Just because we do not perceive an immediate threat today, does not mean there would not be a threat over the 60-year odd time horizon we are looking at," he said."Just because we do not perceive an immediate threat today, does not mean there would not be a threat over the 60-year odd time horizon we are looking at," he said.
"The truth is, at the end of the day, we can have continuous-at-sea nuclear deterrents or we can have a part-time deterrent. The part-time deterrent will save us only trivial sums of money.""The truth is, at the end of the day, we can have continuous-at-sea nuclear deterrents or we can have a part-time deterrent. The part-time deterrent will save us only trivial sums of money."
'Nuclear ladder'
But Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander accused Mr Hammond of trying to "rubbish the report" and said his Conservatives colleagues "were worried about losing the argument".But Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander accused Mr Hammond of trying to "rubbish the report" and said his Conservatives colleagues "were worried about losing the argument".
'Nuclear ladder'
The UK's nuclear policy had "not moved on very much since the end of the Cold War", he said, and the review showed there were "credible alternatives" to the current arrangements.The UK's nuclear policy had "not moved on very much since the end of the Cold War", he said, and the review showed there were "credible alternatives" to the current arrangements.
"We can move on by ending 24-hour patrols when we don't need them and buying fewer submarines," he said."We can move on by ending 24-hour patrols when we don't need them and buying fewer submarines," he said.
"That way we can move down the ladder of disarmament as a country without compromising our national security.""That way we can move down the ladder of disarmament as a country without compromising our national security."
Mr Alexander said £4bn would be saved from moving from four to three submarines but this was not the "driving motivation". Critics have questioned whether the UK can continue to pay for Trident in its current form. The government estimates renewal costs will be between £15bn and £20bn but anti-nuclear campaigners say the figure will be much higher.
The review will not have any direct impact on the policy of the coalition government, which affirmed its commitment to Trident in its programme for government in 2010. Mr Alexander said £4bn would be saved in the medium to long term from moving from four to three submarines but the Ministry of Defence says the current cost of operating the Trident fleet is about 5% of the annual £34bn defence budget.
A group of former defence secretaries and military chiefs - including Liam Fox and Lord Reid - have added their voices to those calling for Trident to stay in its current form in a letter to the Daily Telegraph.A group of former defence secretaries and military chiefs - including Liam Fox and Lord Reid - have added their voices to those calling for Trident to stay in its current form in a letter to the Daily Telegraph.
Labour, which backed like-for-like renewal the last time Parliament voted in 2007, said the UK must have the "minimum credible deterrent" to guarantee its national security but must also ensure "maximum" value for money.Labour, which backed like-for-like renewal the last time Parliament voted in 2007, said the UK must have the "minimum credible deterrent" to guarantee its national security but must also ensure "maximum" value for money.
The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament said cancelling Trident would bring "strategic and economic benefits" and for the government not to consider this seriously would be an "abdication of responsibility".The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament said cancelling Trident would bring "strategic and economic benefits" and for the government not to consider this seriously would be an "abdication of responsibility".
Publishing an alternative review, which it says has the backing of a number of Lib Dem and Labour MPs, its general secretary Kate Hudson said not proceeding could save £100bn and give the UK "moral leadership" in global disarmament talks.Publishing an alternative review, which it says has the backing of a number of Lib Dem and Labour MPs, its general secretary Kate Hudson said not proceeding could save £100bn and give the UK "moral leadership" in global disarmament talks.