Alun Michael challenged over Trident

11.55.07am GMT Thu 8th Mar 2007

LABOUR MP for Cardiff South and Penarth, Alun Michael has been challenged to vote against the replacement of the Trident nuclear submarines by a leading local Liberal Democrat.

Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, backed by David Cameron's Conservatives, have forced a vote in the Commons on replacing the four Trident submarines which will be held on Wednesday 14th March.

Cardiff South and Penarth Liberal Democrat Assembly Spokesperson Dominic Hannigan said, "The decision on the replacement of the Trident submarines is not needed until at least 2014. This is the date accepted by many experts and by the House of Commons Defence Select Committee.

"And there is a powerful reason for taking the decision in the next decade rather than now. In 2010, the next round of international nuclear disarmament talks will be held. It is vital that they are successful.

"Taking a decision on replacing the Trident submarines now pre-empts the outcome of those talks and could cause them to fail. It will show the rest of the world that the UK is not serious about negotiating away nuclear weapons.

"And it will encourage countries such as Iran to continue developing their own nuclear programme. The most sensible course of action is to decide whether or not to replace Trident, with all the costs involved, after we have seen the outcome of the nuclear disarmament talks.

"That is why Liberal Democrat MPs will be voting against the Blair, Brown and Cameron decision to press ahead with replacement now on 14th March.

"And I am calling on Alun Michael to vote against this decision which could cause these vital international talks to fail.

"This is too important a situation for him to follow blindly the instructions of the Labour Party whip. If he is serious about negotiating away nuclear weapons, backing Blair and Brown on this is definitely the wrong thing to do."