Labour MP Huw Irranca Davies challenged over Trident

8.50.53am GMT Fri 16th Mar 2007

LABOUR MP for Ogmore, Huw Irranca Davies has been criticised for voting in favour of the replacement of the Trident nuclear submarines by a leading local Liberal Democrat.

Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, backed by David Cameron's Conservatives, won a vote in the Commons on replacing the four Trident submarines despite a large rebellion of back bench Labour MP's.

Ogmore Liberal Democrat Assembly candidate, Martin Plant said, "Huw Irranca Davies decision to vote with Blair, Brown and the Tories is saddening and one that will have consequences. Unfortunately, he was not willing to stand up alongside both fellow Labour MP's and the Liberal Democrats to delay the decision on the replacement of the Trident submarines until at least 2014. This is the date accepted by many experts and by the House of Commons Defence Select Committee as most appropriate for such a decision.

"Now that the decision on replacing the Trident submarines has been taken, the Government have put the outcome of International nuclear disarmament talks

in jeopardy. They have shown the rest of the world that the UK is not serious about negotiating away nuclear weapons.

"This decision will also encourage countries such as Iran to continue developing their own nuclear programme.

"The most sensible course of action would have been to make this decision after we had seen the outcome of the nuclear disarmament talks.

"Unfortunately Huw Irranca Davies has blindly followed the instructions of the Labour Party whip. His decision to back Blair and Brown has led to a UK foreign policy that wages war not peace.