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Liberal Democrats vote for fewer Trident nuclear submarines Leadership sees off conference rebels' call to axe Trident nuclear missiles
(about 5 hours later)
Liberal Democrats have voted to reduce rather than scrap Britain's Trident nuclear submarines, in another major victory for Nick Clegg. Liberal Democrats have voted to reduce rather than scrap Britain's Trident nuclear submarines in another significant victory for Nick Clegg.
They backed the leadership's plan for just three new submarines, rather than the current four, after senior party figures argued it would be reckless to get rid of them all in one go. In a move described by the leadership as "credible and deliverable", party members backed a plan to give up at least one of the UK's four submarines in a vote at the Lib Dem conference.
Danny Alexander, the chief secretary to the Treasury, led the argument for a partial replacement of the multibillion-pound Trident programme, saying it would be a "credible and deliverable" first step towards nuclear disarmament. The leadership had feared a revolt as rebel activists were calling for the party to "eliminate entirely the UK's nuclear deterrent as soon as practicable".
His remarks suggest the Lib Dems are hoping to have their plan implemented in a future coalition, although David Cameron has made it clear the Conservatives would not accept such a compromise. A group of grassroots Lib Dems, some with a long history of campaigning for nuclear disarmament, argued the party had caved in to Tory arguments for maintaining a deterrent. But the delegates appeared to have been won round by Sir Nick Harvey, a former defence minister, who said the proposal for reducing Britain's submarines should be characterised as the "boldest and most radical suggestion to come from any of the [major] nuclear powers".
The motion made the bold claim that scrapping one of the four submarines would amount to "the greatest single act of de-escalation ever undertaken by one of the established nuclear powers". Harvey said the reduced fleet would mean no more sea patrols by nuclear submarines. This would send out a clear message that Britain does not need to be able to "flatten Moscow" at a moment's notice, or want to "continue to sail the high seas waving weapons of mass destruction at no one in particular", he said.
It faced a challenge from George Potter, a Lib Dem activist, who tabled an amendment calling for the party to "eliminate entirely the UK's nuclear deterrent as soon as practicable". Arguing that atomic weapons should be reduced gradually, he presented the plan as a "practical proposition" that was a clear precursor to further disarmament. Eventually, he said, this would allow Britain to "beat a path to the nuclear exit door".
Several speakers supported this bid for swift disarmament, including Paul Coleshill, leader of the Lib Dems in Glasgow, who compared Trident to a sports car inherited by a middle-aged man "of failing prowess". Danny Alexander, the Treasury chief secretary, also argued that a partial replacement of the multibillion-pound Trident programme was a "credible and deliverable" first step towards nuclear disarmament. "It's a change that is taken seriously in the United States," he said. "They recognise that this is, within the UK context, a significant step that the UK can make on the journey that President Obama is talking about towards a world free of nuclear weapons. This is a major step in the ladder of disarmament, if you like, that we can take in the UK."
However, the amendment was defeated by 322 votes to 228, after a number of senior party figures lined up to claim the leadership motion represented a highly significant reduction of Britain's nuclear weapons. His remarks suggest the Lib Dems are realistically hoping to get their plan implemented in a future coalition. This would be more likely in any alliance with Labour as the Conservatives have made it clear they would not accept such a compromise.
Sir Nick Harvey, a former defence minister, said there was no longer any need to "continue to sail the high seas waving weapons of mass destruction at no one in particular", when they could be sent out at a few days' notice. Among the other senior Lib Dem figures to back the plan were Simon Hughes, the party's deputy leader, who urged members not to vote to abandon all nuclear weapons "in one go".
Reducing the number of submarines from four to three would be a "clear precursor" to further disarmament and allow Britain to "beat a path to the nuclear exit door", Harvey said. Opponents were led by activist George Potter, who quoted the former Lib Dem leader Paddy Ashdown saying the UK's nuclear deterrent is "a monstrous folly".
He described it as both an "an entirely practical proposition" and the "boldest and most radical suggestion to come from any of the [major] nuclear powers". "It is only necessary for us to have an independent nuclear deterrent if three criteria are met," he said. "One, that there is a country out there which is nuclear armed; two, that a country actively wishes to destroy the UK with nuclear weapons and no-one else; and three, that country will be deterred by us having an independent nuclear deterrent. This motion is a good motion but on Trident it calls for something I consider foolish and dangerous."
Simon Hughes, the party's deputy leader, also spoke in support of a gradual reduction in Britain's nuclear weapons, urging members not to vote to get rid of them all in one go. A series of speakers supported his call for swift disarmament, including Paul Coleshill, leader of the Liberal Democrats in Glasgow, who compared Trident to a sports car inherited by a middle-aged man "of failing prowess".
Lady Garden of Frognal, a Lib Dem whip and defence spokesman in the Lords, said the motion was the only "roadmap for disarmament". The rebel amendment was defeated by 322 votes to 228, meaning Clegg has now seen off several challenges to his policies.
"It will strengthen our credibility in international disarmament talks," she said. Over the past few days, he has won backing for his commitment to austerity, the continuation of the 45p tax rate, new nuclear power plants and the current system of charging university tuition fees.
Following the nuclear debate, Alexander also unveiled plans to crack down on tax avoidance. He said the Treasury would close a loophole exploited by partnerships and launch a campaign to persuade landlords to pay the outstanding tax they own to HM Customs and Revenue.
Alexander was well-received as he criticised Tories for presenting the EU as a "bogeyman responsible for every wrong". However, the biggest cheer of the day went to Charles Kennedy, the former Lib Dem leader, who said the party was willing to be unpopular for expressing pro-European views.
Kennedy blamed Tony Blair for Britain's predicament in Europe, saying he ran scared of the press and Gordon Brown – implying both were a barrier to Britain joining the single currency.
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