UK cannot afford to replace nuclear weapons, say MPs
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
London, Dec 9, IRNA -- The British government is being urged by MPs to scrap its plans to replace the country’s Trident nuclear missiles on the basis of cost as well as the dangers of adding to proliferation.
“The UK is facing its biggest economic crisis since the Second World War and can ill afford to spend in excess of £76 billion ($115 bn) on replacing the Trident nuclear weapons system,” said Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn.
“The UK's security needs are not met by nuclear weapons which do nothing to combat the threats posed by terrorism or climate change,” Corbyn said in a parliamentary Early Day Motion, signed by more than 20 MPs.
“While countries such as the UK justify their retention and replacement of nuclear weapons on the grounds of an uncertain future, the more likely it is that non-nuclear states will use the same rationale to justify developing their own weapons systems,” the motion also warned.
The government was urged “to cancel the replacement of Trident, to re-orientate the skilled manufacturing base towards the needs of a post-carbon future, making significant investment in green jobs and reallocating funds towards socially useful spending.”
The UK’s controversial plans are also being opposed by trade unions, church leaders and various campaign organisations as well as eminent lawyers, who have accused the British government of breaching the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Over 150 MPs have also previously supported an Early Day Motion calling on ministers to delay the Initial Gate decision, which ends the concept phase and starts the design phase of the replacement programme.
The UK government has insisted that it will go ahead with the replacement of Trident but has also announced that the program as well as building two super aircraft carriers will be included in a review of defence priorities.
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End News / IRNA / News Code 833491
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