Blair Pushes Nuclear Upgrade

In the face of a skeptical Parliament, British Prime Minister Tony Blair today called for an immediate decision on beginning replacement of the Trident nuclear weapon system, Agence France-Presse reported (see GSN, March 13).

“I think it’s right we take a decision now to begin work on replacing the Trident nuclear submarines,” he said during a session of the House of Commons.

“I think that it is essential for our security in an uncertain world.  I believe it is important that we recognize that although it is impossible to predict the future, the one thing … that is certain, is the unpredictability of it,” Blair added.  “For that reason, I think it is sensible we take this decision today” (Agence France-Presse/Spacewar.com, March 14).

Sixty-two lawmakers from the Labor Party yesterday called for additional time to debate the matter, the London Daily Telegraph reported (George Jones, The Daily Telegraph, March 14).

Blair’s plans calls for spending as much as $39 billion to replace the four Vanguard-class submarines that carry Trident nuclear-tipped missiles.  The submarines are scheduled for decommissioning around 2024, Reuters reported.

Opponents have argued that the Soviet Union’s demise has eliminated the need for a nuclear deterrent, and that replacing the existing system would send the wrong message to nations such as North Korea and Iran that are known or suspected to be developing nuclear weapons.  Funds would be better used for conventional forces, they say.

“Our decision could well be the hinge point between real impetus toward stopping proliferation or a trigger leading to a cascade of further proliferation,” said Labor Party lawmaker Michael Meacher.

Despite opposition from his own party, three members of which have resigned their positions with the government in protest, Blair is expected to garner sufficient support from the opposition Conservative Party to push the proposal through (Reuters/New York Times, March 14).

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