RUSI report highlights lingering questions surrounding proposed renewal of the United Kingdom’s Independent Nuclear Deterrent

Renewing Britain’s Independent Strategic Nuclear Deterrent: A Debate

Report on the 7th of March proceedings at RUSI. The debate was led by Des Browne, Michael Codner, Steven Haines, and Paul Ingram.

The United Kingdom’s Independent Strategic Nuclear Deterrent: Observations on the 2006 White Paper and Issues for the Parliamentary Debate

By Michael Codner, Gavin Ireland and Lee Willett has been produced in response to the UK Government’s White Paper on the future of Britain’s nuclear deterrent, published in December 2006.

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In this Whitehall Report, the authors explore what they consider to be the principal issues that should form the basis of this debate during the consultation period and the Parliamentary debate. In focusing on what they consider to be the substance of an appropriate debate, the authors’ aim is not one of advocacy either for or against retention of Britain’s nuclear deterrent, but of informing the Parliamentary debate in a way that is accessible to the British electorate, whose views should be represented on the floors of the Houses of Parliament. In this way, a well-informed nation should directly influence development and implementation of Government policy in this hugely important matter over the next decade. During this period further decisions will be required before the bulk of procurement money is actually committed, at which stage the decision will be binding.