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14/03/2007
Blair defends plans to renew Trident
Tony Blair has continued to defend government plans to renew the Trident nuclear weapons system.
Speaking during Prime Minister's question time, Mr Blair said that the system was essential for Britain's security and that the decision on replacing the nuclear submarines should be taken now.
MPs will vote on the issue around 7pm on Wednesday evening. There have been reports that as many as 100 Labour MPs could rebel against the government, while the Liberal Democrats are also against the plans, preferring to delay a decision until 2012.
Labour MP Jon Trickett is tabling an amendment calling for the renewal vote to be delayed and it is believed to have the support of more than 60 MPs.
However, a government defeat is unlikely as the Conservatives are expected to back the government.
Several protests against replacing the Trident system are taking place across the UK, including one at Faslane, where the British submarine fleet is based, and the Scottish Parliament, were several protestors climbed onto the roof. Two people were arrested.
On Tuesday, four Greenpeace campaigners scaled a crane beside the Houses of Parliament in Westminster and unfurled a banner suggesting that Mr Blair "loved" weapons of mass destruction, in protest at the vote.
There have now been three resignations from the government over the plans - deputy leader of the Commons Nigel Griffiths, who resigned on Monday, and Jim Devine, a parliamentary private secretary at the Department of Health, who resigned on Tuesday. Stephen Pound, another ministerial aide, also reportedly resigned on Wednesday afternoon.
(KMcA)
Speaking during Prime Minister's question time, Mr Blair said that the system was essential for Britain's security and that the decision on replacing the nuclear submarines should be taken now.
MPs will vote on the issue around 7pm on Wednesday evening. There have been reports that as many as 100 Labour MPs could rebel against the government, while the Liberal Democrats are also against the plans, preferring to delay a decision until 2012.
Labour MP Jon Trickett is tabling an amendment calling for the renewal vote to be delayed and it is believed to have the support of more than 60 MPs.
However, a government defeat is unlikely as the Conservatives are expected to back the government.
Several protests against replacing the Trident system are taking place across the UK, including one at Faslane, where the British submarine fleet is based, and the Scottish Parliament, were several protestors climbed onto the roof. Two people were arrested.
On Tuesday, four Greenpeace campaigners scaled a crane beside the Houses of Parliament in Westminster and unfurled a banner suggesting that Mr Blair "loved" weapons of mass destruction, in protest at the vote.
There have now been three resignations from the government over the plans - deputy leader of the Commons Nigel Griffiths, who resigned on Monday, and Jim Devine, a parliamentary private secretary at the Department of Health, who resigned on Tuesday. Stephen Pound, another ministerial aide, also reportedly resigned on Wednesday afternoon.
(KMcA)
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Trident passed despite major Labour rebellion
The government's plans to renew the Trident nuclear weapons system has survived a Commons vote, in spite of the biggest Labour rebellion since the Iraq war. The vote on the renewal of the Trident submarines were supported by 409 MPs, with 161 MPs, including 88 Labour MPs, voting against the government.
Trident passed despite major Labour rebellion
The government's plans to renew the Trident nuclear weapons system has survived a Commons vote, in spite of the biggest Labour rebellion since the Iraq war. The vote on the renewal of the Trident submarines were supported by 409 MPs, with 161 MPs, including 88 Labour MPs, voting against the government.
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