No to Trident

Almost two thirds of Labour backbenchers oppose the Government's decision to replace Britain's Trident nuclear deterrent, according to a poll.

As MPs prepared for this week's crucial Commons vote, of the 101 Labour backbenchers who responded to a survey by BBC Radio 4's The World This Weekend, 64 said they were against Trident renewal.

Only 22 backed the Government's plan to acquire a new generation of nuclear missile submarines and to update the Trident D5 missiles, while 15 said they were still undecided.
Eighty MPs did not respond to the survey while another 27 could not be contacted.

The findings underline ministers' fears of a substantial backbench revolt in the Commons on Wednesday.
Rebels have warned that the Government could be forced to rely on the support of the Tories to carry its motion backing Trident renewal.

On Saturday Labour leadership contender Michael Meacher promised to reopen the decision to replace Trident if he wins his bid to succeed Tony Blair as Prime Minister.

The former environment minister accused the Government of trying to "bounce" MPs into accepting a replacement. He said if he was in No 10, he would order a fresh vote on the issue after a "full and proper" public consultation of at least six months.

"The consultation on Trident has been a sham. By fixing the vote in the Commons next Wednesday, No 10 is bouncing Parliament into a momentous decision years before expert opinion says that is necessary," he said.

"As leader, I would reopen this decision. I would arrange a full and proper consultation lasting at least six months and embracing all the relevant options and then have at least a two-day debate in Parliament ending with a fresh and much more authoritative vote."

Well he is making the right noises but will Blair's bully boys get him before he becomes a serious contender to Brown.

Chris Sabian, Peak District View - 2007-03-11 03:19:42