A Labour frontbencher has expressed regret that the party cannot ‘get rid’ of the Trident nuclear deterrent. Shadow Welsh secretary Owen Smith said at a hustings event on Wednesday: ‘We view the world as being a very dangerous and volatile place at the moment. So our policy is that we will retain Trident, we will maintain a continuous at-sea deterrent.’ But he added: ‘So we will pursue an independent perspective, the next Labour government, but on the issue of Trident: would but we could get rid of it but I fear that we can’t.’ Shadow Welsh secretary Owen Smith has expressed regret that the party cannot ‘get rid’ of the Trident nuclear deterrent . Around three quarters of Labour candidates back scrapping Trident, which preserves a round-the-clock protection at sea in case of a nuclear strike. But the party has committed to maintaining the deterrent, which will need to be replaced in the coming years, in its election manifesto. The Tories have warned that Labour could ‘sell out’ Britain in a deal with the SNP which wants to scrap Trident. Replacing the deterrent with a ‘like for like’ system would cost around £100bn. Replacing the trident deterrent with a ‘like for like’ system would cost around £100bn (file picture) Last month a survey found three quarters of Labour’s candidates are opposed to renewing Trident. Yesterday shadow defence secretary Vernon Coaker said: ‘Let me be absolutely clear: we are committed to the renewal of Trident. 'We are committed to the retention of a Continuous At-Sea Deterrent and we will follow the advice of experts in terms of delivering that, who say current technology means four boats.’ A Labour Party spokesman said: ‘As Owen’s comments make abundantly clear, he supports Labour’s policy of renewing Britain’s Trident nuclear deterrent as a continuous at-sea system.’
Shadow Welsh secretary Owen Smith made comments at a hustings event.
Three quarters of Labour candidates back scrapping Trident system.
Replacing deterrent with a ‘like for like’ system would cost around £100bn.