Part of the Trident: we don't buy it tour blog 
It's been a long day, so excuse the lame rhyme (above), I just couldn't stop myself. It's not that I'm giddy with excitement, it's all been rather anti-climatic really. We didn't expect the vote would be defeated, so there was no surprise when Blair got his way and the vote to replace Trident went through. Tony gets to go ahead and build his new weapon of mass destruction – the Blair Bomb, his legacy. But only because of help from the Tories. That some how feels hollow too. So I look elsewhere for inspiration.
“It’s not the end of the story by any means,” said Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn immediately following the vote. “This is a very big rebellion.”
Indeed, we’re counting on you rebels. The vote passed with 409 in favour and 161 against. That’s 88 Labour MPs voted against Trident replacement, 95 voted for the rebel amendment earlier, that's the biggest since the Iraq war. Blair’s proposal also prompted MPs to quit their posts. (See I can yet convince myself this is great news.)
And those Labour rebels are right to be concerned. By going head with Trident today, in 20 year's time not only will the UK have a new nuclear weapon, there will be more nuclear weapons states in the world. Blair cannot preach to other states to ‘do as I say, not as I do’. Far from making the world a safer place, Blair’s lust for nukes will encourage others to follow his dangerous and unnecessary example.
And secondly, only 24% of the public support the government's plans to replace Trident and 51% think that the final decision to replace the Trident should be made through a public referendum.
You're right Jeremy, it is far from over. It may have Blair’s name on it, but Brown’s going to pay the price.
