Should the UK have a nuclear deterrent?

Just been watching a debate on this subject on the Daily Politics.

Whether it be the renewal of Trident or some other form of nuclear weaponry, do you believe the UK should have a nuclear deterrent?

If so, why?

If not, why??

I personally would like to see the UK get rid of all it's nuclear weaponry. I think nuclear weapons are an evil in the world. I'd like to see us lead by example and disarm our nuclear warheads. They will never be used in my opinion.

I also think it's grotesque to be spending billions of pounds on nuclear weapons at a time when people up and down the country are having to resort to going to food banks just to survive and our public services are being slashed. Those are far more pressing issues than having a nuclear submarine in my view. People before bombs.

I was a little outraged by a comment from one of the panel when they were debating this. They said that one of the main reasons we shouldn't get rid of Trident is because thousands of jobs depend on it. Funny, I don't remember the government giving too much of a * about jobs in the 1980's when they were closing down coal mines and steelworks all over the place! Just another rubbish excuse to keep a nuclear deterrent we'll never need or use as far as I'm concerned.

Scrap them all. Then start looking at ways to make ourselves totally unreliant on nuclear power as well. That's the next challenge.

 

Don't need it, don't want it and most importantly waste of public money that is very much needed elsewhere. We shouldn't be relying on Trident for thousands of jobs which is only in one area anyway so not much use to the rest of the country.

Scotland realistically could be running on renewable energy in a decade or so, that's where we should investing as that will be the future for the world. Having more companies over here to train up people for the industry and create 1000's of jobs.

There's a wind turbine manufacturing facility near where I used to live, they take on 100's of people from the small town, local people as well.
The only reason this works right enough is that the company gets tax breaks from the government for setting up the company. They ship out the turbines which also gives more jobs for transport etc.

 

For all those that support it in England, wanna bet they would change their minds if the Nuclear subs were moved to just next to one of their cities such as London, Liverpool ,Southapton or Portsmouth.

 

As a job creator Trident is * terrible. Seriosly must be one of the worst in existence.

 

Might need these nukes in case of asteroid bombardment though. :fear

In seriousness though we need to master our use of nuclear technology, we should be looking for viable attempts at fusion. Far cleaner and more useful for people world wide.

To call a weapon evil doesn't make sense. Its * who use them against other people who need to be examined at.


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I refuse to believe that if we took a portion of the Trident money and used it to create new jobs in another field that we couldn't do that. That doesn't seem like a credible argument to me.

 

You mean like Fairy Liquid?

Oh wait..............

 

What about MAD?

 

If nuclear weapons could be un-invented that would be great, however they can't be. Nuclear weapons are a deterrent and as such should be maintained.

I have a feeling I may be in a minority :smiley-laughing002:

 

Unfortunately I think it's a case of either any nation who wants one should be able to have one, or no one should have one.

As things stand, especially with the Western nations not being on the best of terms with Russia, we do need them. Russia has them, and basically having them is what keeps the status quo I think.

In an ideal world no one would have them, of course. That goes without saying.

 

I'm really torn on this, and I see merit in both arguments.

I can see why a deterrent would be required while there are unstable and / or unpredictable regimes with access to similar weapons.

BUT...

It's a disgusting amount of money that could be spent on seriously worthwhile things, not to mention funding armed forces properly. The weapons themselves are absolutely evil. I wouldn't exactly call them unsafe, but there is a the potential, however small, of an accident 30 miles from my house.

Basically, * knows.

 

Put it this way, when you read stuff like this you have to think that it may be best to keep hold of what we have for now at least;

 

Estimates at cost to replace Trident are somewhere between £20bn and £130Bn from various different sources.
Even at the cheapest option it costs more to replace Trident (not counting operating costs) than the whole of the operating budget of the NHS in Scotland for 2013-2014 of £11.127Bn

 

Seems he's going ballistic eh?

 

Obviously I'm in the nobody should have them camp. The first nuclear war will be the last, everyone will lose. I don't believe it will ever happen. It's just a * waving exercise as far as I can see.

I think the USA and Russia both having them maintains the status quo, I don't see any need for us to have them. There are apparently only 9 countries in the world that have nuclear weapons, over 200 do not. Why should we be any more unsafe than Switzerland or Sweden who don't have them?

Maybe if we stopped charging around the globe acting like we own the place and helping the Americans do their dirty work then we would cease to be a target for any of the nations that do have nuclear weapons. Seems like a far more pacifist and sensible path to go down than * away huge sums of money on scrap metal. That money could then be used do positive things like help build our economy and support the poor.

 

Voted no because I don't think Britain should have it. But other nations should be allowed to protect themselves.

 

Just not the UK :smiley-laughing002:

 

What exactly are the UK Government trying to deter?

A nuclear attack on these shores?

Westminster and the tories - they don't really care, as they already have their places ready in the underground bunkers for them and their families.

 

Of course. World is becoming a more unstable place and can't see that changing any time soon. Makes the big boys talk instead of getting shirty.

 

No being reading JimTheDims posts ? All these refugees have 2 or 3 nuclear bombs each.