UK - ‘MoD support growing for Trident alternative’

The coalition government has been accused of putting national security at risk with its two opposing positions on Trident renewal.

The Lib Dems are either being “ill-informed” about the need for a replacement fleet of nuclear missile-carrying submarines or are trying to “pull the wool” over people’s eyes, Barrow MP John Woodcock has claimed.

He made the comments as Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg told the party conference in Brighton of his desire for an alternative to Trident nuclear submarines and promised to play “hardball” with David Cameron over the Successor programme. He also used Trident as an example of Conservative policies blocked by the Lib Dems, including stopping the nuclear deterrent replacement being approved in this parliament.

In response to Mr Clegg’s announcement, Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron said he believed there is growing support within the Ministry of Defence for an

alternative to a direct Trident replacement. He added: “We recognise the submarines need to be built in Barrow, but not nuclear ones.

“It will be better for the Cumbrian economy if we want the full range of submarines, not just those with nuclear missiles.”

The plan preferred by the Lib Dems would see nuclear warheads fired from existing Astute submarines, eliminating the need to replace the Vanguard-class nuclear boats. A final decision is not expected until after the next general election, but the initial gate stages of preparatory work have already been signed off, resulting in more jobs being created at BAE Systems’ Barrow shipyard.

Mr Woodcock said: “I have worked well with Tim Farron on a number of issues, but on renewal of the deterrent the Lib Dems are either cosmically ill-informed or seeking to pull the wool over the eyes of many thousands whose jobs depend on a thriving shipyard.

“Unfortunately, this hopeless muddle reflects the wider risk to jobs and national security caused by the coalition facing both ways on renewal.

“It is right for any government to examine credible new evidence on the deterrent, but studies produced so far have suggested that the Lib Dem alternative of nuclear-tipped cruise missiles on Astute-class submarines could be more expensive, less effective, and more likely to trigger a nuclear conflict – the opposite of the myth peddled by the Liberal Democrats.”

Chief secretary to the treasury Danny Alexander has been put in charge of the government review of alternatives to the Trident nuclear missile system after the only Lib Dem in the Ministry of Defence was moved in the government reshuffle.

The study is being carried out to appease Lib Dem coalition partners who are opposed to a like-for-like replacement of Trident.