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The Progressive

NewsWire

A project of Common Dreams

For Immediate Release
Contact: enquiries@cnduk.org

MoD Can't Pay PS205 billion For Trident? Expect Further Cuts To Schools and Hospitals

Anti-nuclear campaigners have responded to the announcement that Trident could be shifted from the Ministry of Defence budget.

WASHINGTON

Dave Webb, CND Chair, said:

"This is an extraordinary development if the government goes ahead. Where precisely will PS205 billion or more, the full cost of Trident replacement, be found outside of the MoD budget? The government has repeatedly said it hasn't got billions laying about so, for lack of a magic money tree, this can mean only one thing. Further cuts to schools, hospitals or other areas of social spending.

"There are growing numbers of MPs concerned about the impact of Trident spending on conventional weaponry and defence. The leaks on HMS Queen Elizabeth, the new aircraft carrier, could well be an example of the sort of corner cutting the MoD is charged with. But the answer to this is not to shift the responsibility for Trident spending elsewhere. The credible answer is that it's time to face the reality about Trident: it's outdated, expensive, leaves us vulnerable, and doesn't address the major 21st century security threats. It's time to cancel Trident."

CND campaigns non-violently to rid the world of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction and to create genuine security for future generations. CND opposes all nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction: their development, manufacture, testing, deployment and use or threatened use by any country.