Trident

[hellywelly4]

I've got BBC News on at the moment and JC is talking about Trident. I went through the Cuba crisis and the reason that the Russians didn't take over the West was because we had the nuclear deterrent. I can't understand the logic that says we should get rid of Trident. If we don't have a n/d aren't we at risk from any tin pot dictator who takes it into his head to invade us?

[vulcan42]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-19932406

[ichkeria]

The issue is not that Russia, or North Korea, or anyone else, would invade the UK or 'be in Britain in a trice' but rather that a leader would seek to blackmail or coerce the country with the threat of nuclear missile deployment. Of course the UK could give up its independent deterrent and our NATO membership would in theory protect us. But as I said elsewhere, does it make sense to give up the capability and the clout it gives us internationally?

[jourdain2]

No, it doesn't make sense ichkeria. Of course we need to keep Trident. It would take too long to develop any other system - although perhaps we should put a body of boffins on to start working out another system for the future protection of this country -and the Western world.

[maggiebee]

Of course you can keep Trident. Just take it out of Scotland and down to England if it means that much to you.

[jourdain2]

My use of 'we' includes Scotland - as does the OP, I believe.

[maggiebee]

That's as may be jourdain2 but "we" in Scotland don't want it. Only 1 Scottish MP is in favour of keeping these weapons of war in Scotland.

[jourdain2]

I'm half Scottish, maggiebee. I can't, really can't, split us up - in fact I have far more Scottish than Yorkshire family (I don't even count myself English first). We live a couple of miles from a station that would be the first place to be attacked, so are a target as much as the Scottish bases.

[Zacs-Master]

Menwith Hill or Fylingdales?

[vulcan42]

maggiebee, do you honestly believe Scotland would be safe if trident was removed?

[jourdain2]

Staxton RAF early warning and listening post with rapid response, Zacs-Master.

[Jackdaw33]

Anyway renewal has just been voted through with a massive majority.

[tonyav]

MP's have voted to back UK's Trident nuclear weapons system.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-36830923

[Zacs-Master]

Good

[Jackdaw33]

Government majority of 355.

[Togo]

//Hellywelly....do you think its remotely possible that North Korea would want to invade us ?//

Perhaps not invade us, but they would sure as hell like to threaten to blow us to kingdom come with impunity. Or blackmail us into paying protection money.

[naomi24]

Parliament have made the right decision.

[ichkeria]

Fewer Labour MPs voted against than Scottish Nationalists.
Make of that what you will :-)

[youngmafbog]

Happy to take all of our military building out of Scotland, give the jobs to the English and the Welsh.

Besides, with Trident isn't the idea no one knows where it is !

[ToraToraTora]

good point, wee shoggy should be careful what she wishes for....

[Ninefingers]

Ahh the royal "we" being invoked, the "we" in this case Maggiebee is the 50% of the Scottish electorate who put the 57 MPs in Westminster the other 50% may or may not believe that we should or shouldn't have Nuclear weapons, that portion fell to 46.5%. That "we" doesn't represent my views (no longer living in Scotland, so doesn't really matter) or the views of 75% of my family.

All bar one Scottish MP voted no, of course they did, SNP prospective candidates don't get selected if they don't follow the party line on disarmament or anything else for that matter.

I also can't wait to see how Queen Nicola of Dregged-up explains away the near 7000 jobs that will disappear at Faslane and the destruction of the economy around Helensburgh and Dumbartonshire if they pull out of Faslane??

This is the fun part of lefty politics at the moment, democracy is only democracy as long as it suits your aims.