Steps toward nuclear disarmament are Lib Dem victory
October 20, 2010 12:00 AM
Jo has welcomed the reduction of nuclear warheads and delay of the renewal of Trident announced in the Strategic Defence and Security Review this week.
The Liberal Democrats have long campaigned for the UK to reduce its stockpile of nuclear weapons, as part of its international obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The Defence Secretary announced this week that the UK would reduce the number of nuclear warheads and missiles it holds.
Defence Secretary Liam Fox also announced that a decision on the renewal of the Trident nuclear weapons system will be delayed until 2015 - another victory for Liberal Democrats, who voted against the Labour government's proposal to make the decision earlier than was necessary.
Commenting, Jo said:
"As a Liberal Democrat I am opposed to the full scale replacement of Trident, and I am delighted that the Government has announced that it will begin reducing the UK's stockpile of nuclear weapons.
"Delaying the decision on precisely what system will replace Trident until 2015 means Liberal Democrats have more time to make the case for alternatives to this expensive and outdated cold-war era deterrent.
"We have a responsibility to work with other countries to promote international nuclear disarmament, and the UK is now leading the way by example."
Defence Secretary Liam Fox announced that the maximum number of nuclear warheads aboard each Vanguard class submarine will be reduced from 48 to 40.
The next generation of submarines will be designed to carry 8 missiles as opposed to previous plans for 12.
By the mid-2020's the UK's nuclear stockpile will be reduced from 225 to no more than 180 warheads.
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