Trident

[Filuwaúrdjan]

The general estimate is that at least 100 Labour M.P's will rebel on the issue.

And some Greenpeace people have climbed a crane at the Commons...

Not exactly going to help matters is it?

[afleitch]

I think the whole issue is a little shortsighted- a 'blind renewal' of Trident is the worst case scenario, we need a debate about it. Now Trident is currently based at Faslane in the west of Scotland. What happens if 5 or 10 years down the line Scotland becomes independent? The government can try and rent the base, but logistically and diplomatically having your main nuclear arsenal based in a foreign nation is just asking for trouble and I don't believe we would stand for it. If we did the 'rent' would be sky high. If it was too expensive to rent you would have to construct or refit a new base. Again continued cost.

I'm in favour of missile defense, but that doesn't mean we have to back the status quo.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

I'd imagine that either England would concentrate all of its nuclear activities at Devonport or that they'd arrange to do more than just missile servicing at Kings Bay, Georgia, but also warhead storage and maintenance to replace RNAD Coulport.

[afleitch]

Still no idea how the Scottish Labour patsys MP's will vote. I expect a rebellion of some significance would do Labour some good north of the border; to vote with the government on this wouldn't bode well for Labour's election campaign where Trident, despite not being devolved is a suprisingly big issue. To do so would focus yet more negative reaction on Labour who decided, in an election stunt yesterday, to give nurses their measly pay rise in one lump on April 1st rather than two as Gordon Brown had intended. It was a cheap trick that has been attacked even in usually sympathetic press circles.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Well two Scottish M.P's have resigned from the government over this so...

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Vote is in, Govt. wins it (no suprise). Not sure how many Labour M.P's rebelled but probably around 80, maybe more than that.
Will post a list when one can be found.

Oh and two more people resigned from the Government over this; Stephen Pound and Chris Ruane.

[KEmperor]

Well two Scottish M.P's have resigned from the government over this so...

I know only the basics of British politics, so can you explain why this is such an issue for the Scots in particular?

Is it simply because it's located there?

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Is it simply because it's located there?

Something like that IIRC.

---

List of rebels is here

My M.P rebelled by the look of it (no suprise). Some of the names are odd though; Godsiff?!!
Interesting to note that Rhodri Morgan's wife rebelled.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Out of interest, does anyone know if any M.P's from other parties rebelled?

[Gabu]

So what exactly happened here?  I didn't quite get the resolution.

Did Britain ban chewing gum once and for all?

[KEmperor]

So what exactly happened here?  I didn't quite get the resolution.

Did Britain ban chewing gum once and for all?

No, apparently the Scottish and a lot of Labour MPs wanted it banned but enough Conservatives sided with Labour to keep it.  This should be a surprise to no one, since it is common knowledge that the Tories are a shill of the Chewing Gum Industry.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Michael Ancram(!!)

Whu?!

*thud*