The Digester

At the Liberal Democrat spring conference in York, Sir Ed Davey called for the UK to end dependence on US Trident missiles by building a British-made nuclear deterrent, saying planning should start now for a replacement ahead of the 2040s.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey told his party conference in York that the UK should develop a fully independent nuclear deterrent rather than rely on US-provided Trident missiles.
The UK currently controls its nuclear warheads but depends on US technology and support for the Trident II (D5) missiles that deliver them.
Davey argued the UK should decide now to spend the billions over the next two decades to replace Trident with a British-built system ahead of the planned 2040s replacement.
The Lib Dems propose a two stage plan: first domestically maintain the existing Trident system and second develop a fully UK-made replacement, with no cost estimate provided.
The Ministry of Defence defended the current deterrent as an independent guarantee of national security and reiterated the UKs commitment to NATO and a modernised nuclear force.

Ed Davey urges UK to build independent nuclear missiles to end US reliance

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