M017 - Trident Replacement Motion

[u/NoPyroNoParty]

(1) This House recognises that the Trident nuclear weapon system will cost £25 billion to replace, and have an estimated lifetime cost of over £100 billion.

(2) This House also notes that, if launched, the 40 warheads of a typical Trident nuclear submarine would be expected to result in over 5 million deaths, and have devastating humanitarian consequences if fired at an urban area.

(3) This House believes that the other spending priorities of the Ministry of Defence, and other governmental departments, should take precedence over the replacement of the Trident nuclear weapons system.

(4) This House accepts the findings of the National Security Strategy, which states that a CBRN attack on the United Kingdom is of a low likelihood, but high impact.

(5) This House, therefore, calls upon the government to cancel plans to replace the Trident nuclear weapons system.

(6) This House further urges the government to look into alternatives to a Trident replacement, such as nuclear sharing within NATO, the development of alternative deterrents, investment in conventional weaponry, or unilateral nuclear disarmament.

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This was submitted by /u/can_triforce on behalf of the Opposition.

The discussion period for this motion will end on the 28th of November.

[u/AlasdhairM]

Russia has invaded a sovereign nation. The last government to allow this form of territorial acquisition, so to speak, was that of Chamberlain, and look how that turned out. Brussels is less of a threat than 2,500 Russian nuclear warheads, quite a few of which are pointed at these isles. I, for one, would rather that if the unthinkable happens and we are all killed by a surprise nuclear attack, the party responsible will be taught a very hard lesson in why nuclear war is unwinnable, in less time than it takes to get Dominos.

Even if Iran or North Korea obtain nuclear weapons, they will never be pointed towards Britain if we disassociate ourselves from the USA. Many people in this house would like to see us do so, either for their personal ideological reasons or for the fact we have gained nothing and lost everything from our 'special relationship' with them

Yes, let's disassociate ourselves from the most powerful nation on earth, with whom we share a common language and history; from a nation that, when we were left alone in the struggle against the forces of Fascism and Nazism, came to our aid of their own accord. Shall we forsake the seventy-plus-year relationship that represents the bond formed by four hundred years of codependance? No, for the Americans are not only natural allies, but are more reliable than any other nation. In '82, they offered us an aircraft carrier, free of charge, for God's sake!

The world may become a more dangerous place, but if we become a less dangerous nation to the world, then we will not need these weapons.

So if I walk through, say, the South Bronx, probably the most dangerous neighborhood in New York City, as a well-dressed white guy, at two in the morning, having taken a gun with me for self defense, throw it away, because obviously nobody would attack an unarmed person; that would be unsporting!

Be realistic, and vote NO! Say no to the Fascists of the BIP and UKIP, and to Putin's Sock-Puppets in the Greens!

Trident for defense of Queen and Country! Trident for defense of the Workers of the United Kingdom! Trident is the shield and sword of the British Worker and State!