Nuclear Weapons
Holyrood Sketch: The author of The Red Book on Scotland, the chosen one, favours a new generation of nukes? He will happily spend £25bn (and then some) just to lease the latest in American missiles? You could almost picture the Labour thought-bubbles: voters aren’t going to like this.
Herald 23rd June 2006
Pressure was mounting at Westminster last night for MPs to have the final say over whether Britain should have a new generation of nuclear weapons.
Herald 23rd June 2006
Article By David Tate attacking CND: Kate Hudson, the chair of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament is implacably opposed to the retention of a modern nuclear deterrent for Britain, arguing that it sends the worst possible signal. I’m not sure what sort of “signals” Kate Hudson favours. For example, in February of this year, Kate Hudson signed a letter, which was published in the Guardian, expressing her “deepest concern” at the news that the UK, France, Germany, the US, Russia and China were to report Iran to the UN security council, as part of the Anti-Nuclear Proliferation Treaty enforcement procedures. So, clearly, such multilaterial processes are also unacceptable to CND. While we’re on the subject, it is worth mentioning that CND is also opposed to Britain developing its civil nuclear power industry.
Guardian 23rd June 2006
WELSH Secretary Peter Hain last night gave his backing to Gordon Brown after the Chancellor said he wanted to keep Britain’s controversial and expensive nuclear deterrent.
Western Mail 23rd June 2006
While Gordon Brown’s commitment to replace Britain’s Trident nuclear deterrent has sparked predicatable anger among some Labour MPs, the next step for any Brown-led government is perhaps also equally easy to anticipate. For although the Treasury has insisted a range of options will be examined when the current system is replaced, the inescapable fact is that nuclear deterrence – at an estimated cost of up to £25bn – is one of those bits of government spending where you can’t shop around.
Guardian 22nd June
Various letters on Brown’s announcement including one from Edward Pearce: Resistance to spending a wilderness of money which might be spent on useful things requires the marshalling of a campaign distinguishable from CND. The new campaign which this letter exists to demand, would attack top-tableism, waste, futility and motives of puerile swagger. Such purposes define Blair’s priorities, to which the chancellor, cashing in such respect as he still enjoyed, has surrendered.
Guardian 23rd June 2006
GORDON Brown was last night reeling from a left-wing backlash over his support for retaining Britain’s nuclear weapons in “the long term” as MPs demanded a parliamentary vote on whether to replace the ageing Trident system. Clare Short, the former international development secretary, said his remarks were part of a “desperate” attempt to succeed Tony Blair and made clear she could no longer support him in his bid to be the next prime minister.
Herald 23rd June 2006
Times 23rd June 2006
Tony Blair and Gordon Brown were accused of ‘disrespecting democracy’ last night after signalling their support for a new generation of nuclear weapons without bothering to consult Parliament.
Daily Mail 23rd June 2006
Scotland Today 22nd June 2006
Times Editorial: Brown is right to challenge the left on nuclear weapons.
Times 23rd June 2006
Andrew Carver in the Daily Mail argues against replacing Trident.
Daily Mail 23rd June 2006
