Wales - First Minister draws a line under nuclear arguement

FIRST MINISTER Carwyn Jones has said that the argument over the potential move of nuclear missile submarines from Scotland to Milford Haven is “entirely academic.”

Mr Jones appeared keen to draw a line under the row which began last month when he suddenly told assembly members that the nuclear missile Vanguard-class submarine fleet and the associated jobs would “be more than welcome” in Milford Haven.

A Welsh Government spokesman later said: “The First Minister recognises the substantial economic benefits of relocating Britain’s nuclear submarines to west Wales.”

That had kick-started heated debate about whether the submarines and their nuclear missiles could or should ever be based in the Haven waterway.

But after weeks of questioning, petitions and rumours of behind-thescenes discontent among the Labour front bench in Cardiff, Mr Jones seemed to want to move on when asked about the issue at First Minister’s questions last week.

“It’s quite clear from the UK Government that the fleet will remain at Faslane, so the issue is now entirely academic,”