Trident
LABOUR has backed down over plans to cut the number of nuclear missile-carrying submarines that are refitted in Plymouth. Prime Minister Gordon Brown offered last year to cut the number of Trident-armed submarines from four to three as part of a multilateral "global bargain" to reduce the risk of nuclear weapons. But in a move seen as a bid to rally support at the ballot box, Defence Minister Quentin Davies has now pledged that Labour is committed to retaining four boats. The Ministry of Defence insists that a final decision has not been taken, but says it is 'expected' that four vessels would be needed to provide the current round the clock at sea deterrent.
Plymouth Herald 13th Apr 2010
If Britain had declared a few months ago a willingness to reduce its nuclear arsenal before anyone else, Britain would have been hailed as a real leader and earned gratitude from the US administration. Labour could just have let it slip they were thinking about including such a commitment in their manifesto. But they did not, even though such plans were proposed to No 10. In today's world, using Britain's inbuilt international advantages - the English language, a UN seat, a dynamic economy, a history of freedom-promotion, effective armed forces and a nuclear arsenal - are key to countering any pressure from rising powers like China. In this case, Britain and the Labour government missed out.
Spectator 12th Apr 2010
http://www.spectator.co.uk/coffeehouse/5907828/labours-nuclear-noshow.thtml
Nuclear Weapons
In terms of declaratory policy, what advocates of nuclear disarmament are really looking for from the nuclear powers are NOFUN declarations - no first use of nuclear weapons. Nick Witney from European Council of Foreign Relations explore.
eGov Monitor 12th Apr 2010
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