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| Miliband accuses Tories of 'deceit and lies' campaign as Trident row erupts | Miliband accuses Tories of 'deceit and lies' campaign as Trident row erupts |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Ed Miliband has accused the Conservative party of basing its campaign on “deceit and lies”, in a ramping up of a war of words triggered by a personal attack on the Labour leader by a Tory minister. | Ed Miliband has accused the Conservative party of basing its campaign on “deceit and lies”, in a ramping up of a war of words triggered by a personal attack on the Labour leader by a Tory minister. |
| The defence secretary, Michael Fallon, earlier accused Miliband of planning to “stab the United Kingdom in the back” over the renewal of the Trident nuclear deterrent. | The defence secretary, Michael Fallon, earlier accused Miliband of planning to “stab the United Kingdom in the back” over the renewal of the Trident nuclear deterrent. |
| Fallon confirmed that a new Tory government would go ahead with the construction of four new Trident nuclear missile submarines to replace the existing fleet, but said Labour would have to abandon any plans to renew the fleet in order to secure the support of the Scottish National party in a hung parliament. | Fallon confirmed that a new Tory government would go ahead with the construction of four new Trident nuclear missile submarines to replace the existing fleet, but said Labour would have to abandon any plans to renew the fleet in order to secure the support of the Scottish National party in a hung parliament. |
| Fallon told the Times: “Ed Miliband stabbed his own brother in the back to become Labour leader. Now he is willing to stab the United Kingdom in the back to become prime minister.” | Fallon told the Times: “Ed Miliband stabbed his own brother in the back to become Labour leader. Now he is willing to stab the United Kingdom in the back to become prime minister.” |
| Miliband retorted: “Michael Fallon is a decent man but today I think he has demeaned himself and demeaned his office. National security is too important to play politics with. I will never compromise our national security, I will never negotiate away our national security. | Miliband retorted: “Michael Fallon is a decent man but today I think he has demeaned himself and demeaned his office. National security is too important to play politics with. I will never compromise our national security, I will never negotiate away our national security. |
| “And you know what, the Conservative party can throw what they like at me, but I’m going to concentrate on the issues that matter to the British people – how we keep our country safe, how we invest in education, how we tackle tax avoidance, how we make this country work for working people.” | “And you know what, the Conservative party can throw what they like at me, but I’m going to concentrate on the issues that matter to the British people – how we keep our country safe, how we invest in education, how we tackle tax avoidance, how we make this country work for working people.” |
| Related: What's the future of Trident? An expert guide | |
| Miliband then went further, attacking the Tories’ campaigning style. “I’ve got to say, I think the British people deserve better than what the Conservative party are offering in this campaign, which is a campaign based on deceit and lies,” he said. | Miliband then went further, attacking the Tories’ campaigning style. “I’ve got to say, I think the British people deserve better than what the Conservative party are offering in this campaign, which is a campaign based on deceit and lies,” he said. |
| The row broke out as Labour prepared to sign off its election manifesto at a “clause 5” meeting of the shadow cabinet together with senior officials from the ruling national executive, the national policy forum and the parliamentary Labour party. The Conservatives said they were moving their manifesto launch to Tuesday, after both main parties announced their intention to publish on Monday. | The row broke out as Labour prepared to sign off its election manifesto at a “clause 5” meeting of the shadow cabinet together with senior officials from the ruling national executive, the national policy forum and the parliamentary Labour party. The Conservatives said they were moving their manifesto launch to Tuesday, after both main parties announced their intention to publish on Monday. |
| 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 coalition.” | 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.” |
| 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.” | 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. The Tories are like a wounded, cornered animal at the moment, they are lashing out. Ed Miliband has dealt with this issue.” | 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.” |
| 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. | 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. Tim Montgomerie, founder of the Conservative Home website, tweeted: “Embarrassing: way too personal from Michael Fallon against Ed Miliband.” | Some Tories also criticised Fallon. Tim Montgomerie, founder of the Conservative Home website, tweeted: “Embarrassing: way too personal from Michael Fallon against Ed Miliband.” |
| In a speech in London on Thursday, Fallon said 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. | In a speech in London on Thursday, Fallon said 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 said: “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 said: “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 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 SNP business convener, Derek Mackay, said on Radio 4 it was “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. | The SNP business convener, Derek Mackay, said on Radio 4 it was “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. |
| Fallon said: “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 said: “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 also announced 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 also announced 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 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 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 would only do so if CASD could be maintained, and it has said it would 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 could 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.” |