UK

How serious was the Trident missile test failure?

On 22nd January, BASIC Executive Director, Paul Ingram was quoted in the US Defence Journal for his analysis of the recent Trident missile test failure. 

“It is a complex system. It is an amazing feat of human engineering but everything has to work or there is catastrophic failure and a catastrophic failure can have catastrophic consequences.”

Read the full article here.

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Does the UK need a nuclear deterrent?

British MPs have thrown their support behind the renewal of the Trident nuclear weapons programme. BASIC's executive director, Paul Ingram, was interviewed after the outcome of the Parliamentary vote, arguing that the issue will remain controversial. Watch the interview on Aljazeera's website here: http://video.aljazeera.com/channels/eng/videos/does-the-uk-need-a-nuclea…

Vanguard at Faslane

Voting for Trident before the Scotland question is settled is illogical

The UK Parliament will be voting tonight on the principle of replacing Trident nuclear weapons system. It is a symbolic commitment, unconnected to any contracts or procurement timetable. Meanwhile, the government commitment to leave the EU is stoking calls for a second Scottish referendum. As the UK’s nuclear weapons submarines have their only base in Scotland, voting for Trident before coming to an agreement about the UK’s future makes no sense.