LIB/DEMS UNDER FIRE OVER TRIDENT VOTE

LIB/DEMS UNDER FIRE OVER TRIDENT VOTE

The Liberal Democrats are under fire tonight (Tuesday) after voting
against an amendment which would have seen the future of the Trident
nuclear weapons system considered as part of the forthcoming strategic
defence and security review – a policy the party explicitly advocated
before the general election.

In the coalition programme for government the Lib/Dems claimed they
would ‘continue to make the case for alternatives’ to the system, but
this evening voted against including the £100bn programme from the
strategic review. Liberal leader Nick Clegg has previously claimed
that he wanted to see Trident included as part of the strategic
review.

The vote - on an SNP, Plaid Cymru and Green Party amendment – was
defeated by 27 votes to 330 - with Liberal and Tory MPs voting against
the amendment.

Commenting, SNP Westminster leader and Defence spokesman Angus
Robertson MP said:

“This was an opportunity for the Liberal Democrats to make the case
for alternatives, as they claim is their policy, but they have voted
against it and betrayed the people who voted for them.

“To undertake a strategic review which excludes the hyper-expensive
Trident programme, while considering cuts to conventional, front-line
forces, is a sham exercise. A defence review is essential to
prioritise our defence needs in a changed world, but you cannot have a
meaningful debate about that if you start by excluding the future of
the Trident programme.

“The forthcoming review is a prime opportunity to fundamentally
consider the Trident nuclear weapons system yet Tory, Liberal and
Labour MPs are determined to treat it as some sacred cow.

“It would appear that the Liberal Democrats have traded their
opposition to Trident for the trappings of government. By voting
against this amendment, the Liberals have let down voters across the
country who backed their anti-nuclear stance.

“Whatever way you look at it, Trident is morally, economically and
politically untenable – that is why the SNP will continue to fight to
have it scrapped altogether.”