The Liberal Democrats say they believe that they think that the UK needs a better, more up to date approach to Trident. As a party they say they remain wholly unconvinced that the UK needs to renew its current system on the same scale as the Cold War system designed in 1980.
The Lib Dems say they will keep the United Kingdom secure whilst keeping cost down through having a sensible and pragmatic approach to the UK's independent nuclear deterrent. They say they will have a policy which is based on contingency planning rather than a continuous at sea deterrent. They call it is a sensible approach that reflects the UK's defence needs 'without needless posturing.'
They say that the Conservatives' announcement today is not about what is best for the UK; it is about Conservatives trying to attack Labour and the SNP. This issue is too important to be brought down to General Election point-scoring. The Lib Dems say that the debate on the UK's nuclear capacity should be a grown-up conversation of the merits of our nuclear policy.
Commenting on LBC radio Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg said: "I find it quite extraordinary that the Conservatives appear this morning to have elevated this nuclear weapons system as the most important thing in which they are in politics for. They're saying it's a red line and all of this kind of stuff. I think many people listening would find it pretty odd that a major party like the Conservative Party think that's more important than delivering jobs or fairer taxes or better pensions or money for our schools and nurseries."
"Liberal Democrats believe that we need a better, more up to date approach to Trident. Under our approach we will keep the United Kingdom secure whilst keeping cost down through having a sensible and pragmatic approach to our independent nuclear deterrent." Mr Clegg added.
