This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/apr/09/tories-politics-of-the-gutter-trident-michael-fallon-ed-miliband

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Tories accused of engaging in 'politics of the gutter' over Trident comments Tories accused of engaging in 'politics of the gutter' over Trident comments
(about 1 hour later)
The Tories were accused of descending to “the politics of the gutter” by the Labour election campaign chief Douglas Alexander after they claimed Ed Miliband was prepared to “stab the UK in the back” by abandoning Britain’s independent nuclear deterrent in a deal with the SNP. The Tories have been accused of descending to “the politics of the gutter” after they claimed that Ed Miliband was prepared to “stab the UK in the back” by abandoning Britain’s independent nuclear deterrent in a deal with the SNP.
The defence secretary, Michael Fallon, said anyone prepared to stab his brother in the back to grab power in the Labour party would be willing to stab the country in the back to get into Downing Street.The defence secretary, Michael Fallon, said anyone prepared to stab his brother in the back to grab power in the Labour party would be willing to stab the country in the back to get into Downing Street.
Asked to defend his highly personal remarks, Fallon said “it was an issue of leadership and trust”, adding Miliband’s behaviour in defeating his brother David showed he was prepared to resort to any shabby manoeuvre or backstairs deal to get into Downing Street. Asked to defend his highly personal remarks, Fallon said: “It was an issue of leadership and trust,” adding that Miliband’s behaviour in defeating his brother David for the party leadership showed he was prepared to resort to any means to get into Downing Street.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4 Fallon said: “We saw in that leadership election just what he would do to his own brother to get into power. People cannot be sure if they vote Labour in England whether they would lose their nuclear submarines because Nicola Sturgeon from the SNP has made it crystal clear she will not support the renewal of Trident.” Speaking on BBC Radio 4, Fallon said: “We saw in that leadership election just what he would do to his own brother to get into power. People cannot be sure if they vote Labour in England whether they would lose their nuclear submarines because Nicola Sturgeon from the SNP has made it crystal clear she will not support the renewal of Trident.”
He added: “This is the most important issue facing this country, the issue of whether we continue with our nuclear defence and you have to make clear whether you are prepared to put the principle of our nuclear defence ahead of any grab for power and stitching together with a collation.” He added: “This is the most important issue facing this country, the issue of whether we continue with our nuclear defence, and you have to make clear whether you are prepared to put the principle of our nuclear defence ahead of any grab for power and stitching together with a coalition.”
Alexander said Fallon’s remarks “said a lot more about the state of the Tory election campaign than the state of our national security. This is desperate stuff from a rattled campaign that spent yesterday defending tax avoidance and has now descended to the politics of the gutter”. Labour’s election campaign chief Douglas Alexander said Fallon’s remarks “said a lot more about the state of the Tory election campaign than the state of our national security. This is desperate stuff from a rattled campaign that spent yesterday defending tax avoidance and has now descended to the politics of the gutter”.
He said: “Labour’s commitment to continuous at sea nuclear deterrent was not up for negotiation. The experts say that will require four submarines, we will review that pending any technological advance”. He said: “Labour’s commitment to continuous at sea nuclear deterrent was not up for negotiation. The experts say that will require four submarines, we will review that pending any technological advance.
“The Tories are like a wounded cornered animal at the moment, they are lashing out. Ed Miliband has dealt with this issue.”“The Tories are like a wounded cornered animal at the moment, they are lashing out. Ed Miliband has dealt with this issue.”
Vernon Coaker, who showed his support for Trident by paying his first visit as shadow defence secretary to the Cumbria shipyards which are building the new Vanguard submarines, also pointed out that Miliband has already ruled out any concessions to the SNP on nuclear weapons. Vernon Coaker, who showed his support for Trident by paying his first visit as shadow defence secretary to the Cumbria shipyards that are building the new Vanguard submarines, pointed out that Miliband had already ruled out any concessions to the SNP on nuclear weapons.
Some Tories also criticised Fallon after he launched the highly personal attack on Miliband, saying he could not be trusted with the nation’s defences after he “stabbed his own brother in the back to become Labour leader”. In a Times article Fallon wrote: “Now he is willing to stab the United Kingdom in the back to become prime minister.” Some Tories also criticised Fallon. Tim Montgomerie, founder of the ConservativeHome website, tweeted: “Embarrassing: way too personal from Michael Fallon against Ed Miliband.”
Tim Montgomerie, the founder of the ConservativeHome website, tweeted: “Embarrassing: way too personal from Michael Fallon against Ed Miliband.” In a speech in London on Thursday, Fallon will say Miliband’s refusal to rule out any involvement with the SNP could put at risk Britain’s nuclear arsenal, based at Faslane and Coulport in Argyll. The SNP has pledged to scrap nuclear weapons.
The row broke out before a speech in London in which Fallon will warn that Miliband’s refusal to rule out any involvement with the SNP could put at risk Britain’s nuclear arsenal, based at Faslane and Coulport in Argyll. The SNP has pledged to scrap nuclear weapons. The defence secretary will say: “There will be a clear choice between a Conservative government that will put our national security first, or Ed Miliband, a man so desperate for power he is ready to barter away our nuclear deterrent in a backroom deal with the SNP.”
The defence secretary will say: “There will be a clear choice between a Conservative government that will put our national security first. Or Ed Miliband, a man so desperate for power he is ready to barter away our nuclear deterrent in a backroom deal with the SNP.” The Tories’ decision to highlight a threat to Trident is their latest high-stakes attempt to boost support in England by warning of the dangers of a post-election deal between Labour and the SNP. Opinion polls suggest that the SNP could win more than 40 of Scotland’s 59 seats and indicate that the only path to Downing Street for Labour may involve a deal with the SNP. Miliband has ruled out a formal coalition but has declined to rule out a more informal arrangement.
The Tories’ decision to highlight a threat to Trident on Thursday is their latest high-stakes bid to boost support in England by warning of the dangers of a post-election deal between Labour and the SNP. Opinion polls, which suggest that the SNP could win more than 40 of Scotland’s 59 seats, indicate that the only path to Downing Street for Labour may involve a deal with the SNP. Miliband has ruled out a coalition with the SNP but has declined to rule out a more informal arrangement. The SNP business convenor Derek Mackay said on Radio 4 it was “an absolute red line: the people of Scotland do not want Trident”.
The SNP business convenor Derek Mackay said on BBC Radio 4 its an absolute red line the people of Scotland do not want Trident”. But the only direct way this matters would be if the SNP said it would oppose a Labour budget or a Queen’s speech on the issue. On a specific vote to press ahead with Trident, the Conservatives and Labour would combine to defeat opponents of Trident renewal, including the SNP.
But the only direct way this would matter is it the SNP said it would oppose a Labour Budget or a Queens Speech on the issue. On a specific vote to press ahead with Trident the Conservatives and Labour would combine to defeat opponents of Trident renewal, including the SNP. Fallon will say: “The SNP’s childlike worldview would sacrifice the long-term security of the UK and play into the hands of our enemies. The nuclear deterrent protects all of Britain and the SNP represents a separatist threat that would dangerously weaken our collective defence.”
But Fallon will say: “The SNP’s childlike worldview would sacrifice the long-term security of the UK and play into the hands of our enemies. The nuclear deterrent protects all of Britain and the SNP represents a separatist threat that would dangerously weaken our collective defence.
Fallon will also announce in the speech that a future Conservative government would replace the current Vanguard nuclear submarine fleet with four new vessels to guarantee Britain’s “continuous at-sea deterrence” (CASD).Fallon will also announce in the speech that a future Conservative government would replace the current Vanguard nuclear submarine fleet with four new vessels to guarantee Britain’s “continuous at-sea deterrence” (CASD).
Labour last night dismissed the speech as scaremongering by the Tories, who were unnerved after Labour secured a two-point lead over them in a YouGov/Sun poll, by 35% to 33%. The party pointed out that Miliband gave a simple “no” answer when Jeremy Paxman asked him in the recent Channel 4/Sky News Q&A whether he would agree to an SNP demand not to renew Trident. Labour dismissed the speech as scaremongering by the Tories, pointing out that Miliband gave a simple “no” answer when Jeremy Paxman asked him in the recent Channel 4/Sky News Q&A whether he would agree to an SNP demand not to renew Trident.
Labour has said it is looking at the possibility of building three instead of four submarines to reduce the £25bn costs of replacing Trident when the “maingate” decision is taken in 2016. But it will only do so if CASD can be maintained, and said will take the advice of experts. Labour has said it is looking at the possibility of building three instead of four submarines to reduce the £25bn costs of replacing Trident when the “maingate” decision is taken in 2016. But it would only do so if CASD can be maintained, and it has said it would take the advice of experts.
Sturgeon indicated in a Guardian interview last month that the SNP would not place the scrapping of Trident on the table in any negotiations after the election. The Scottish first minister said the SNP would simply vote against its replacement when the maingate vote is held in the Commons.Sturgeon indicated in a Guardian interview last month that the SNP would not place the scrapping of Trident on the table in any negotiations after the election. The Scottish first minister said the SNP would simply vote against its replacement when the maingate vote is held in the Commons.
But in the Scottish leaders’ debate on the BBC on Wednesday night, Sturgeon said: “Is Trident a red line? Well here’s my answer: you’d better believe Trident is a red line.”But in the Scottish leaders’ debate on the BBC on Wednesday night, Sturgeon said: “Is Trident a red line? Well here’s my answer: you’d better believe Trident is a red line.”