Don’t replace Trident says ex-army chief
Last updated at 14:01, Thursday, 21 January 2010
AN ex-army chief who advises the Tories on defence has said Trident should not definitely be replaced.
Sir Richard Dannett said it was right to keep Trident, which operates from Barrow-built submarines, in the short term for the next 15 years or so, but not long term.
The current system would last that duration, suggesting the replacement deterrent should not be built.
Speaking on Radio 5 yesterday, Sir Richard said: “It is a very fine judgement as to whether we should continue to have a nuclear deterrent or not.
“I think if we are looking at the character and nature of future conflicts and if we think we will be dealing with hybrid warfare or asymmetric threats, then may be for the next few years it makes sense to keep that ultimate deterrent in case some government in five, ten, or 15 years would want to threaten the security of our country.
“At present we should keep it but not forever.”
The ex-head of the army was brought in by David Cameron to advise on defence at the end of last year.
Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox dismissed the comments.
He told the Evening Mail: “Our position, as stated by David Cameron, is we intend to maintain a minimum credible submarine based nuclear deterrent for the United Kingdom.
“Let me reassure the people of Barrow, there is no question of changing this policy.”
Sir Richard’s comments come just days after a national newspaper reported some Conservatives wanted to defer the Trident replacement for five years to help pay off the national debt.
It claimed shadow Chancellor George Osborne favours deep defence cuts but is committed to the Trident replacement without delay.
Former defence secretary and Barrow and Furness MP John Hutton said: “These comments are revealing and show a Tory agenda to scrap or delay the Trident successor programme.
“We have to think long term, we have to think 30, 40, 50 years ahead.
“The comments are very, very worrying and we have begun to see the truth behind the Tory rhetoric.”
Barrow’s Labour parliamentary candidate John Woodcock said: “Hard on the heels on the shock revelation of the Tories five year delay plans that would decimate the shipyard, this latest revelation is more evidence that the Tories cannot be trusted with Furness’ future.”
First published at 12:59, Thursday, 21 January 2010
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk
At the end of the day you need Management in the yard that have the capability to explore other areas of work not just lurch from one crisis to another. Rest assured there will be redundancies within the yard within the next 6/9 months there are too many long term employees just ticking boxes to pick up there salary and pension,not driving new ideas forward,the MoD are weilding the axe!!!
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James P's comment. Barrow was here before it's shipyard but only as a fishing village, now also due to industry the fishing round here is also not sufficient or reliable. The shipyard is the main employer in barrow, without this there will be 5000 people moving away from families And homes looking for new
lives and jobs
Posted by Dave Thomas on 23 January 2010 at 07:56