Inside Story

Does the UK need a nuclear deterrent?

British MPs have thrown their support behind the renewal of the Trident nuclear weapons programme.

British politicians have voted on an issue that will have a profound impact on the future of the country’s security. They have overwhelmingly voted to renew the Trident nuclear weapons system. 

Britain’s nuclear submarines are expected to be decommissioned some time after the year 2030. And for the past 10 years, there’s been debate over what should replace them.

New Prime Minister Theresa May has said she wouldn’t hesitate to launch a nuclear strike. And that Trident is a crucial pillar of Britain’s security.

But is this kind of system still relevant? And can nuclear power really protect the world’s superpowers?

Presenter: Adrian Finighan

Guests:

Paul Ingram – Executive Director of the British American Security Information Council.

Doug Bandow – Senior Fellow at the Cato Institute.

Grant Christopher – Research assistant at the International Centre for Security Analysis at King’s College London.