Posted on 2015-01-26 | 01:01

There was a recent vote in Parliament to commit up to £100 billion on renewing Britain’s Trident Nuclear Missile system. Roger voted against – and he explains why:

“There are 2 arguments put forward for why the UK has a so-called independent nuclear weapons deterrent. Both are myths.

“The first myth is that the system is ‘independent’. The UK has 4 nuclear submarines. Each can carry up to 8 missiles and each missile can carry up to 5 nuclear warheads. The UK does not own the missiles. It leases them from America where they are made, maintained and tested. Our 4 submarines have to go to the American naval base in Georgia to have the missiles fitted. Therefore our nuclear deterrent is totally dependent on America.

“The second myth is that the UK would lose its seat on the United Nations Security Council if it did not have nuclear weapons.This really is nonsense. When the United Nations was set up in 1945 the 5 permanent members of the Security Council, who have a veto, were the victors of the Second World War. Of the 5 countries only America had nuclear weapons. To suggest that a country has to have nuclear weapons in order to be a member of the Security Council is totally untrue.

“This country, like other developed countries, does face threats to its security – from rogue states, international terrorist groups and from groups within our society who want to destroy it. These threats internationally are best met by our membership of NATO. America, with its nuclear arsenal, was a founding member, and it has been the most successful mutual defence pact in history keeping the peace of Europe for over 50 years. The cornerstone of the NATO pact is that an attack on any member is an attack on all.

“Furthermore the only way of dealing with threats from domestic terrorist groups is to be continually vigilant and to make sure our police and internal security organisations are properly funded to disrupt their activities. This happened some years ago in White Street, Sparkbrook, where a terrorist cell planning to set off bombs in central Birmingham was monitored and the premises raided before any atrocity was carried out. The individuals involved were all convicted and received long prison sentences.

“Committing £100 billion to renew our nuclear deterrent is ridiculous at a time of austerity when so many of our services, including conventional defence forces, are being dramatically cut. This is why I voted against renewal.”