Trident must be ditched not delayed

Plans to build a new Trident nuclear weapons system must be ditched not delayed as Labour missed a key deadline for the project.

A parliamentary question to Mr Robertson in October 2009 said the decision on the "initial gate" a key part of the project would be made by the end of the year, however, the MoD have now suggested it will be postponed until at least July this year, putting it beyond the general election.

Mr Robertson said:


“Renewal should not be delayed it should be ditched completely, and deferring the Initial Gate decision will not prevent this obscene waste of money from becoming a key issue in the general election.


“The next election is about choices for the future, and with both Labour and the Tories set on massive cuts to public investment in the face of a recession which is hitting every household, it would be indefensible for a UK government of any complexion to push ahead with Trident renewal.

“This decision has been delayed and postponed time after time because Downing Street know people do not want to waste billions on weapons of mass destruction when frontline services are under threat.

“The Scottish Parliament opposes it, the Scottish Government opposes it; defence chiefs, trade unions, religious organisations, and civil society all oppose replacing this white elephant. Any way that you look at it, on moral, economic or political grounds, renewal of these weapons of mass destruction is untenable.”