This dialogue started with a letter to Nigel Waterson from our chair Dorothy Forsyth
on Trident Renewal
Ms Forsyth
Flat 9 Wellsrnead Place
74 Meads Road
Eastbourne
BN20 7QC
4 September 2009 2009
nw/HLD
Thank you for contacting me about the decision to renew Britain's Trident nuclear
deterrent.
The Government's White Paper, published in 2006. described the independent British
nuclear deterrent as 'an essential part of our insurance against the uncertainties
and risks of the ,future'. This is a statement which I endorse. No one can accurately
predict the threats that the UK will face between 2025 and 2055 – when the next generation
of the deterrent will be in service – just as no one 20 years ago could have anticipated
the collapse of the Soviet Union, or the nature of the conflicts which currently
confront us.
I strongly disagree with the opinions of Field Marshal Lord Bramall, and Generals
Lord Ramsbotham and Sir Hugh Beech. Nuclear weapons cannot be uninvented - they will
remain part of the international security picture in the future. The acquisition
of nuclear weapons by North Korea and their attempted acquisition by Iran are real
threats to our security. We do not have the right to gamble with the security of
future generations. I therefore believe that it is a strategic imperative that we
maintain, update and replace our independent nuclear deterrent and I voted accordingly
in the House of Commons on 14"' March 2007. However, as with all major procurement
programmes, we must ensure that we get good value for money for the taxpayer.
The Conservative Party will be fighting the next General Election on its long-held,
consistent position that the United Kingdom requires the protection of a minimum
strategic nuclear deterrent in a nuclear-armed international environment, and that,
if elected, this is the policy which we shall pursue. We would not expect to hold
vote after vote throughout the acquisition process for this flotilla of new submarines
simply because those who oppose the maintenance of the deterrent in principle wish
to erect multiple barriers to its implementation.
There is a challenging timetable to. meet if continuous at sea deterrence is to be
maintained, and my colleagues on the Conservative defence team will continue to press
the Government to ensure that sufficient progress is being made.
NIGEL WATERSON
Member of Parliament for Eastbourne, Willingdon and East Dean
Phase visit my website: www.nigelwaterson.com
