Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Ministry of Defence

Oral Answers to Questions

Andrew Bridgen Excerpts
Monday 18th April 2016

(8 years, 6 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Michael Fallon Portrait Michael Fallon
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I am very glad to hear that. I would certainly caution the Labour party against moving away from the moderate mainstream support for a deterrent that every previous Labour Government have expressed. Indeed, I note that the advisers of the hon. Member for Islington South and Finsbury (Emily Thornberry) told journalists that her review would be fudged, as the

“last thing we want…is another reason for those who oppose Jeremy to call for him to go”.

The hon. Lady seems to be the only person who thinks that defending our country means defending the Labour leader.

Andrew Bridgen Portrait Andrew Bridgen (North West Leicestershire) (Con)
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Can my right hon. Friend confirm that the Trident alternatives review concluded that there was no credible or affordable alternative to a Trident-based nuclear deterrent?

Michael Fallon Portrait Michael Fallon
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Yes. The alternatives were looked at exhaustively as part of the Trident alternatives review three years ago, and I set out the principal arguments as to why we are making this replacement in a speech to Policy Exchange on 23 March.