The Trident Shambles, Dodgy Rust Buckets and a Welcome Response from Ian Murray

Thanks to the Ferret we know that The UK’s project to help replace nuclear-armed submarines on the Clyde has been branded as “unachievable” for the third year running by the UK government watchdog. The Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA), saying that “successful delivery of the project appears to be unachievable” and it may need its “overall viability reassessed”.

According to the Ministry of Defence everything is fine and dandy since they are hurrying things up and will have the new boats ready by the “early 2030s”. They know that is garbage, confirming what so many suspect that investment in the ghastly business by the current UK regime is more about giving the posturing and vice-signalling they deem necessary rather than a full-hearted intention to commit an atrocity and end human civilisation as we know it. They should of course be aware that the same dread outcome can be realised whatever the motivation – these complex systems for mass death have a way of acquiring their own momentum.

Meanwhile the MoD is relying on the existing old and rusty boats. They have increased the length of nuclear submarine patrols due to refits and maintenance problems arising from skill shortages, and of maintaining the pattern of always having one boat on patrol at all times. There is now great pressure on the submariners as well as the obvious risks around having nuclear reactors, missiles and nuclear warheads on board old tin cans. Heads in the sand does not come near it.

How to get out of the nuclear weapon trap? A complete turn-about would be wonderful but that is right now unlikely given the pro-nuke vows and triple-locks. Here’s a wee step for a start. In two weeks time the third Meeting of States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) takes place in New York. The UK is not a member of the treaty but can attend the meeting as an observer state, doing its global reputation no harm and showing a bit of seriousness about its obligation as a member of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty to take genuine steps towards disarmament.

And we now know that this is an argument worth making. In a recent letter to constituents the Secretary of State for Scotland, Ian Murray MP, who is a signatory to the ICAN Parliamentary Pledge in support of the TPNW, has promised to advocate within parliament and government for the UK’s attendance as an observer at MSP3. That’s a nice wee crack in the blank and unforgiving wall of nuclear idiocy. Let’s keep chipping.