Julie Morgan MP

Julie to vote against Trident replacement

Julie Morgan MP has announced that she will be voting against the replacement of Trident when the House of Commons debates the issue this Wednesday.

Julie said: "I do not believe that replacing Trident will make the world a safer place. I do not see how we can urge countries like Iran not to develop nuclear weapons when we continue to do so ourselves.

"I believe the vast amount of money spent on this project could be put to better, more positive uses; and I will therefore be voting against."

Julie made her announcement in the wake of a consultation period with her constituents, including a packed-out public meeting in Whitchurch which was against renewal.

Julie to hold public meeting on Trident

Julie will hold a public meeting on the question of whether to renew Britain's Trident nuclear missile system on Tuesday 13 February, from 7pm to 9pm at Ararat Baptist Church, on Whitchurch Common.

Julie said: "This meeting will be a chance for the public to air their views on whether the UK should renew its nuclear deterrent.

"I am beginning from the position that I am extremely sceptical about whether we should replace Trident. But I am keen to hear the views of my constituents. To that end, at the Ararat meeting we will be hearing from a speaker from CND who will put the case against renewal, whilst Wayne David, MP for Caerphilly, will put the case for.

"This will not be a strict debate but just an opportunity for all points of view to be heard. I hope that my constituents will use this opportunity to discuss a critical question for our national defence."

For more information get in touch with the constituency office on (029) 20 624166.

Targeting Burma's dictators

Early Day Motions are a useful device for letting the Government know about the strength of feeling on a particular issue. In previous Sessions I've tabled many EDMs on varied subjects. Yesterday I tabled Early Day Motion 498: "Targeted Sanctions Against Burma's Dictatorship". It reads:

That this House recalls that 243 hon. Members signed Early Day Motion 1311 in the 2002-03 parliamentary session calling on the British Government to act unilaterally to ban new investment in Burma; notes that despite stating it opposes investment the Government has still not taken action to ban British companies from investing in Burma, or taken steps to stop foreign companies using British Overseas Territories to channel investment to Burma; commends the Channel 4 Dispatches documentary 'Burma's Secret War' which exposed the appalling human rights situation in Burma and the role that foreign investment has played in propping up the dictatorship in that country; further notes that Burma's democracy movement has called for a ban on new investment in Burma; and calls on the Government to introduce legislation enabling the prohibition of new investment in Burma and to stop foreign companies channelling investment to Burma via British Overseas Territories.

The issue of companies investing in Burma is raised frequently in the House (notably in a Westminster Hall debate in October) and it is something which the Government must get to grips with. The military junta in Burma must be isolated. Aung San Suu Kyi must be released from house arrest and democracy must be restored. Only then can the appalling ethnic cleansing, murder and rape which is so sadly a hallmark of life in Burma today be ended.

Trident White Paper published

Tony Blair has announced to the House of Commons that the Government's "preferred option" is to replace Britain's current nuclear-powered submarines with a new fleet — four submarines, but with a reduction to three "if feasible".

The Defence White Paper — "The Future of the United Kingdom's Nuclear Deterrent" — can be found here and is subject to a three month consultation. The text of the Prime Minister's statement to the Commons is here.

I welcome any and all views from my constituents on this subject. Write to me at the constituency or Westminster offices, or e-mail me.

Trident White Paper on Monday

Thursday's Cabinet meeting agreed that the White Paper relating to Trident will be published on Monday. The Defence Secretary, Des Browne, and Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett have been speaking to Cabinet colleagues in detail and initial discussions about the decision have been had. We are told that the White Paper will be the result of a collective decision made by Cabinet.

Since 1997, the Government's approach has been based around maintaining the minimum effective independent deterrent, setting an example where possible by reducing Britain's arsenal of weapons — down by 30% since 1997, and working towards disarmament through multilateral institutions.

The current deterrent system is based on Trident D5 ballistic missiles in Vanguard submarines. The Vanguard submarines will reach the end of operational service from the early 2020s, even if their lives are extended. If Britain wants to consider the option of a replacement submarine, then based on Government estimates of the long time from concept phase to coming into service, Parliament needs to take a decision now.

This will be a controversial argument. The Government will argue that the strategic context has changed from the Cold War, but that the fundamental logic of nuclear deterrence has not — that nuclear weapons pose a uniquely terrible threat because of their destructive power; that conventional capabilities cannot pose the same threat, so cannot have the same deterrent effect; that nuclear weapons remain an essential part of our capability for deterring any nuclear-armed opponents.

I believe that the strategic context has changed from the Cold War to such a degree that it is difficult to make the argument for renewing Trident, but I am eager to hear the views of my constituents. Beginning on Monday, we can start the debate about the best way forward in this controversial area of policy.