Caroline Lucas writes:
Today, MPs will be making a decision that will
define Britain’s place in the world for generations to come.
Either we replace
our multi-billion pound Trident missile capability or we join the vast
majority of other countries in the world and become a nuclear weapons-free
state.
The vote takes place at a time of
heightened tension across the world, and the security of our country should be
at the forefront of every MP’s mind when they walk through the voting lobbies
this evening.
It is my firm view, based on the
best available evidence, that renewing Trident will
not only fail to improve Britain’s security, but in fact poses significant
dangers to us.
These weapons of mass destruction have the potential to cause
death on an unimaginable scale, and they do nothing to hinder the real threat
of lone gunmen or extremists.
Their very presence here – and the transport of
nuclear warheads on our roads – is not only a target for terrorism but a
continued risk of accidents linked to human error or technical failure.
A recent report from Chatham
House confirms this threat, listing 13 occasions from across the world when
nuclear weapons were nearly launched accidentally.
These weapons present a
huge risk – and there’s no evidence to suggest they keep us any safer.
If we’re serious about ridding the world of nuclear
weapons and fulfilling our obligations under the international Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty,
then genuine disarmament is non-negotiable.
Keeping these weapons sends a
dangerous signal to the rest of the world that security is dependent on being
able to use weapons of mass destruction, and thus drives proliferation.
The UN is currently working on a treaty to ban nuclear weapons.
Britain can
play a part in ridding the world of these weapons, but not if we refuse to lay
down our own nuclear arms.
Trident isn’t only a security
risk. It’s also a colossal waste of precious resources.
Instead of spending
over £100bn on this Cold War relic we could invest in what our armed forces really
need: the best possible safety equipment and decent homes for service families.
And we could use the funds to bolster our ailing public services too: giving
vital extra money to schools and hospitals.
If we scrap Trident, we need to guarantee the jobs and
economic security of those working at Faslane, Aldermaston and elsewhere.
A
Defence Diversification Agency would help ensure a just transition for the
11,000 people whose jobs are directly dependent on Trident.
And there is no shortage of
alternative industry. Investing in renewable energy would create millions more
jobs than nuclear weapons will ever will.
The Clyde region – home to the UK’s
nuclear weapons system – is a hub in Scotland for the renewable energy
industry.
The West Coast of Scotland is by far the best site for wave
technology in the UK.
Trident has become a totem in
Britain.
For many MPs it signifies safety and security, when it offers nothing
of the sort.
Arguments in favour of Trident are so bound to a particular,
narrow view of “Britain’s place in the world” that clear evidence is often
dismissed out of hand.
So before voting, I’d urge MPs to think about this: would
you vote for Trident if we didn’t have it already?
Imagine you were presented
with plans for a brand new weapon that could kill millions but would never be
used, that contravenes international treaties and that presents a genuine risk
to our population, and takes precious money away from our vital public
services.
Would you even consider voting for such a proposal if those weapons
weren’t already in place?
Britain’s history as a nuclear
weapons state does not have to dictate our future.
These missiles shouldn’t be
our bargaining chip on the world stage.
I am voting against Trident because I
believe that we are safer without weapons of mass destruction in our country.
I
hope a majority of MPs join me in doing the same.
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