Ditching nuclear weapons is 'nonsensical' says Brown

Gordon Brown: Backing Tony Blair over Trident
13 April 2012

Gordon Brown warned Labour rebels today it was nonsensical to ditch nuclear weapons while North Korea and others were developing atomic warheads.

In a move intended to face down an impending backbench revolt, the Chancellor dismissed calls for unilateral disarmament in an appearance at Labour's Scottish conference.

Prime Minister Tony Blair said this week there would be a White Paper before Christmas on the future of Trident, Britain's independent nuclear deterrent.

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• Brown hits out at SNP during party conference

It is widely expected that the paper, to be put to a Commons vote early next year, will recommend replacing the submarine-based system.

Mr Brown insisted today there would be a debate on the subject and said Britain supported multilateral disarmament. But he made clear that Britain giving up nuclear weapons on its own was not an option while proliferation remained in prospect.

"There will be a full debate in the next few months about Trident," he said. But I think people should bear in mind over the next few months on this issue that if North Korea has nuclear weapons, if there are other states threatening to have nuclear weapons, then it doesn't make sense to take unilateral action.

"What we need is multi-lateral action. We have taken multi-lateral action since 1997. We've reduced the number of warheads, we've reduced the firepower of these warheads.

"We've taken action in the international community to promote multi-lateral disarmament and that we will continue to do."

While Trident still has 20 years' life left, Mr Blair wants to make a decision on its future before he leaves office because an upgrade would take almost as long to develop.

North Korea provoked international uproar recently when it tested its first nuclear warhead, while Iran is thought to harbour similar ambitions.

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