Prime Minister David Cameron has issued a stark warning that new nuclear threats from North Korea and Iran means that the UK’s Trident programme is more necessary now than ever.
His statement comes after continued aggressive rhetoric from North Korea on the current state of its nuclear efficiency, with almost daily reports confirming the nation’s threats to South Korea and its allies, namely the United States.
Mr Cameron said: “The highly unpredictable and aggressive regime in North Korea recently conducted its third nuclear test and could already have enough fissile material to produce more than a dozen nuclear weapons.
“Last year North Korea unveiled a long-range ballistic missile which it claims can reach the whole of the United States.”
He continued: “Does anyone seriously argue that it would be wise for Britain, faced with this evolving threat today, to surrender our deterrent?”
Current opposition to Trident comes from both the Liberal Democrats, who want to explore a cheaper alternative to the £20 billion Trident replacement plans, as well as the Scottish National Party, who claim that 80% of the Scottish people do not want nuclear capabilities on their doorstep and plan to demand its removal from Scotland should next year’s referendum support independence.
Trident’s Faslane base currently employs 6,700 military and civilian workers with that figure due to rise to 8,200 by 2022.
Mr Cameron said that, while Iran continues to defy the will of the international community over its nuclear programme and North Korea continues to mass a nuclear arsenal, the Conservatives will not back down over plans for a like-for-like Trident replacement.
