Trident: the UK's nuclear weapons system. 4 submarines each armed with dozens of missiles 8 times the strength of the atomic bombs that killed over 100,000 in Hiroshima & Nagasaki. Though only 1 submarine is armed and on patrol at any time, a single missile fired in the wrong direction would cause an unimaginable catastrophe. It is vital that Governments are held accountable regarding Trident and maintain transparency and honesty about the system where appropriate.
Last weekend, it was uncomfortable to learn about a standard weapons test going wrong, with a missile firing in the wrong direction towards the US. The rogue missile was, thankfully, not armed, so a major crisis was averted. This dodgy test occurred in June 2016, one month before MPs voted on whether to renew our Trident system, building 4 updated submarines. We learn Theresa May was aware of this test mishap, but Parliament was not told in that crucial debate. That really worries me, as MPs should have voted with full, detailed, balanced information. It's thanks to our free press that the test was made public knowledge, and the Government are being held accountable. Even if MPs had been aware of this dodgy test, I still think Trident would have been renewed. The majority who voted in favour was over 300, an issue that unites the Tories, most of Labour and Northern Ireland MPs. However, that is no excuse for the information not to be revealed. There could have been more of a constructive debate that really questioned the cost and effectiveness of these weapons and, if renewed, what would be done to avert future crises. Theresa May could have been honest and upfront about what her Government would do to improve the weapons and general tests. Instead, the issue was kept quiet, in the hope of the story slipping out of existence. That doesn't mean I support every detail about our defense being revealed. Many issues are correctly top secret, for our greater security. Members of the Government used that excuse regarding the test, often saying matters were confidential and Trident was in good hands. The level of secrecy and lack of clarity contrasts with successful Trident tests, where the Government are very verbal about testing, eager to boost their reputation and of Trident. When things are going well, the Government seems very happy to reveal everything. When there are errors, the levels of secrecy increase. This rogue test could be one of so many matters that are deliberately being hidden from Parliament and the public. Issues which aren't matters of security, but simply make the Government look incompetent. That would be extremely worrying for our democracy and accountability. This of course is hypothetical, but wouldn't surprise me. As I type this, the Defense Secretary, Michael Fallon, is answering urgent questions on what went wrong. I'm glad the department is being questioned, so that people are aware. The issue isn't whether the UK should have nuclear weapons (that's for another blog), but how they are managed and what is revealed. In the future, the Government must not be so evasive, particularly when the facts are there.
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