THE Defence Secretary will announce today the replacement of Trident is already underway – before a crucial vote on renewal of the controversial nuclear deterrent has taken place. The declaration will come just days after Nicola Sturgeon pledged to make the weapons system a key issue in the forthcoming Scottish election. Conservative cabinet minister Michael Fallon is expected to reveal an extra £640m for the programme. The statement will take the amount already being spent on Trident’s successor to almost £4bn. But the declaration that debate around Trident is effectively over is likely to trigger an explosive response from the SNP and other opponents of nuclear weapons. The party has previously accused UK ministers of trying to pre-empt a Com mons vote on the issue.
Herald 3rd March 2016 read more »