No Need for final Trident decision now-Bruce

12.01.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 14th Mar 2007

Progress on nuclear disarmament is unlikely with the Conservative Party supporting the Governments plans for immediate replacement of Trident

Ahead of the vote on a possible replacement of Trident in the House of Commons tomorrow, Gordon MP Malcolm Bruce said:

"Why is the Government so stubbornly set on taking a final decision on a Trident replacement at this time? Research shows that the final decision does not need to be taken until 2012-2014. Given the unpredictable international political climate and the ongoing overstretch in our Armed Forces' commitments, taking the decision now that Britain will remain a nuclear power until 2060 prevents us playing any constructive role in multilateral disarmament talks, and particularly the 2010 review conference."

"The obsession over the Prime Minister's legacy building seems to be blighting every decision the Government is currently making. While Labour is causing its own party to haemorrhage from within over the nuclear deterrent vote, my fear is that the British public will feel even more alienated from Parliament as a result of all this politicking and grand-standing."