24 September 2009
Brown's Trident plans 'feeble and ineffective'
Three national Church leaders have criticised Gordon Brown over
his 'feeble and ineffective' pledge to reduce the UK's nuclear
submarine fleet from four to three.
The leaders have made their statement following reports that Gordon
Brown will pledge to cut the number of Trident missile-carrying
submarines at a meeting at the UN. However, the Government has made
it clear that retaining the UK's nuclear missiles is 'non
negotiable'.
The full statement follows:
Reducing Britain's fleet of nuclear-armed Vanguard submarines from
four to three is a feeble and ineffective gesture. It does nothing
to support moves towards global nuclear disarmament and very little
to alleviate pressure on public finances.
At a time when the Ministry of Defence are calling for improved
helicopter and other logistical support for frontline troops, the
white elephant Trident project makes little sense. The enormous £20
billion cost of replacing this system will not be much reduced by
the decision to build only three Vanguard submarines. With health
and education expenditure under great pressure public support for
Trident is evaporating fast.
Peace and security in the 21st century necessitate the building of
fairer global systems in which the benefits of freedom and
development are more equally shared.
It is becoming ever clearer that our future security cannot rely on
the outmoded concept of nuclear deterrence. As Christians, we
believe that a world free of nuclear weapons is not only desirable
but realistic. We welcome the Government's stated commitment to the
cause of global nuclear disarmament but urge the Government to
combine words and action.
The Revd Dr Martyn Atkins
General Secretary of the Methodist Church
The Revd Roberta Rominger
General Secretary of the United Reformed Church
The Revd Jonathan Edwards
General Secretary of the Baptist Union of Great Britain