Protestors: Missile change is 'a waste'

9:36am Saturday 4th February 2006

CAMPAIGNERS opposed to the replacement of Britain's ageing Trident nuclear weapons systems demonstrated outside Sopwell House, where MPs and top civil servants were attending a conference.

Secretary of the St Albans branch of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament Laurie Gibson said: "Our message to the Government is don't renew Trident and spend the £25 billion saved on schools and hospitals.

"Trident serves no purpose, and according to our treaty obligations should be negotiated away.

"The present system is described as independent, but in reality is dependent on the United States, as is likely to be any replacement.

"It is unclear against whom or what it is targeted and in the post Cold War world, what purpose it serves."

The conference was organised by The Guardian newspaper to discuss the future of public services.

The campaigners gave the delegates letters, arguing the best way to generate the cash to improve services would be to cancel the replacement for Trident.

Former Labour MP Kerry Pollard declined to back up the Government's policy.

He said: "It seems a total waste of money in the current climate.

"They are weapons we can't use."