In this Vice News article on the future of Trident, BASIC's Executive Director Paul Ingram is quoted, “The Ministry of Defense cannot afford Trident plus all of its other missions. So there is indeed a direct choice to be made between having a brand spanking new nuclear weapons system that nobody expects to use, or hope is never used, and being a country that has conventional forces that has relevance on the world stage.”
Trident
BBC News at One
BASIC Executive Director, Paul Ingram, was featured in BBC News at One talking about Trident on 28 April. The segment on Trident begins at 28:08.
Watch the programme here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b05s23bn/bbc-news-at-one-28042015
Will the New Government be Obliged to Renew Trident?
The efforts to question Ed Miliband's commitment to maintain a credible independent nuclear deterrent have failed to land with the electorate. But it would be a serious error to think that is down to the repeated assurances that a Labour government will follow through with full renewal of the system.
NPT is an Election Issue: UK Member of Elite Club of Irresponsible Nations
Nuclear weapons are attracting a higher profile in this UK election debate than they have in any nuclear weapon state in a generation. Yet the focus is dominated by symbolic prejudice (does a political leader have the necessary mettle to resist minority opinions and renew Trident?) rather than strengthening national security in the round, let alone Britain's contribution to global peace and security.
Costs of UK Trident After the Election
It is easy to be cynical in the middle of an election campaign, but attempts to question Labour's commitment to Trident renewal are not simply election ploys exploiting painful legacies and fears around the rise of the SNP.
UK General Election Trident debate should go beyond symbolism
It was utterly predictable that Trident renewal would be used by the Conservatives to question Labour's credibility and trustworthiness, and by the smaller anti-nuclear parties to distinguish themselves, but the profile of the issue in this election campaign has been far greater than anybody predicted.
The Conservative Party’s Manifesto and Policy on Nuclear Weapons
After a calculated delay, the Conservative Party have today launched their 2015 General Election manifesto: ‘Strong leadership. A clear economic plan. A brighter, more secure future.’
Trident debate: 16,000 nuclear missiles in the world – but who has them, and does UK really need its own arsenal?
This article in the Belfast Telegraph cited BASIC Executive Director Paul Ingram talking about the costs of Trident.
Read the full article here: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/general-election-2015/trident-debate-16000-nuclear-missiles-in-the-world-but-who-has-them-and-does-uk-really-need-its-own-arsenal-31130413.html