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MoD 'heading for bankruptcy' over Trident

THE Ministry of Defence is heading for bankruptcy over its spending on a replacement for the Trident nuclear weapons system, an international campaign group claimed yesterday.

The British American Security Information Council (Basic) has produced a report, Blowing up the Budget: The Cost Risk of Trident to UK Defence, stating the Trident replacement system “will far outstrip the MoD’s allocated budget of £41 billion” and that its total costs is likely to be between £110bn and £114bn.”

The group used the government’s own figures from the National Audit Office and public accounts committee to reach its conclusions.

Report author Toby Fenwick said: “It is regrettable that the government’s Trident cost estimates have consistently been underestimated. The MoD will likely blow its budget given historic decisions and the fall in sterling since Brexit.”

Basic director Paul Ingram said Britain “needs to face up to the harsh realities of Trident renewal.

“Parliamentarians did not vote for renewal with a spending black hole that undermines conventional forces. It is time for an honest debate on cost of Trident and the strategic rationale of the UK’s nuclear forces.”

CND general secretary Kate Hudson said the report highlights “the MoD's budget crisis.

“It’s high time there was a proper discussion about government spending priorities. There can be no justification for wasting public money on weapons of mass destruction. Housing, education, health and jobs are the people's priorities not a redundant cold war status symbol,” she said.

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