BASIC PRESS RELEASE
21 June 2006 - for immediate use
Gordon Brown's announcement of personal support
for Trident Replacement
"Disappointed.......to say the least," says BASIC.
Ian Davis, Director of the British American Security Information
Council tonight expressed his disappointment, to say the least,
at the Chancellor's support for 'retaining the UK's nuclear deterrent
in the long term'.
"It is with deep regret that we hear of the Chancellor's personal
commitment to replace Trident. It pre-empts the government's long-promised
debate on this issue and deepens the suspicion that the decision
has already effectively been made, despite numerous assurances to
the contrary," he said.
Gordon Brown has chosen to make this announcement just weeks before
his own department is due to publish papers in advance of his Comprehensive
Spending Review outlining the big challenges facing Britain in the
next decade. Trident replacement is an expensive and dangerous distraction
from the necessary responses Britain needs to make to terrorism,
climate change and evolving economic and military power in today's
world.
"Given the potential costs involved, the adverse impact of the
worldwide efforts to contain nuclear weapons proliferation and the
drain on an already strained defence budget, this announcement by
the Chancellor appears perverse, but calculated," said Dr Davis.
The House of Commons Defence Committee next week publishes its
report on the first of its reviews into the issues surrounding the
future of Britain's nuclear deterrent. Government officials and
ministers declined to take part in this review. MoD has refused
to answer any Freedom of Information requests on Trident replacement,
though the previous Defence Secretary John Reid, made a clear commitment
in May 2005 that there would be a proper debate. He also stated
on 1 November 2005 in front of the Defence Committee that while
it was desirable that a decision be taken in this parliament, it
was not absolutely essential.
For further comment or interviews please contact:
Dr Ian Davis +44 (0)207 324 4685; mobile: 07887 782 389
Or
Nigel Chamberlain +44 (0)1768 898641
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