What do you wish to say in response to the (non-existent) consultation?

[Ad Min]

This is your space. Imagine the Government has consulted and is interested in what you think of their Trident replacement proposals. Reply here with what you would have wished to have said.

[George Mason]

David Seddon said on 25/6/10 that £30 billion would be saved at once if Trident were cancelled. I understand that the £30 billion is the cost over 20yrs so it would be a much less dramatic saving. Otherwise I support what he says.
George Mason said:

david seddon said:

My One World column (Saturdays) in the Eastern Daily Press a few weeks back referred to the position of all the political parties on the so-called British independent nuclear deterrent and underlined that the Lib-Dems had never said they would cut back on or scrap Trident, merely that they might not renew 'like for like' or would seek alternative nuclear options. Only the Green Party and later Plaid Cymru were opposed to Trident. If cuts are needed this is somewhere around £80 billion that could halve the deficit at once. The piece is on line and has been reproduced in the most recent newsletter of the UNAssociation (Norwich Branch).

we should encourage Caroline Lucas and other critics of Trident and our nuclear policy to speak out in the House of Commons on this whenever possible

david seddon

[Ad Min]

Thanks for this, George (we are running just with your final version of this: hope that is OK!). It's hard to know what figures the government is using in the secret value for money study commissioned by Defence Secretary Liam Fox. Maybe when the study report is published we will be able to see how the government reckons costs may spread over the life of Trident2, if this goes ahead, and indeed, what the terms would be for financing it. But so far, government estimates have been very low for replacement and running costs, quite apart from the MoD yet to be cured of running hugely over budget on procurement projects. I am not convinced the opportunity cost debate should be sidestepped by a five year timeframe for public service cuts. I wonder if the key questions are: is Trident a priority? Can we afford it? Do we need it?

With best wishes

paul barasi