Campbell forces Blair on Trident replacement

1.00.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 23rd Nov 2006

Sir Menzies Campbell in the House of Commons

At Prime Minister's Question Time yesterday Liberal Democrat Leader Sir Menzies Campbell asked for a promise from the Prime Minister that there would be a Commons vote on Trident replacement. Many Labour MPs believe Trident should not be replaced or, at the very least, that serious alternatives should be examined fully. They also want a vote on it and they are angry at suggestions that Mr Blair has already made his mind up and will be announcing the government's preferred option - presumably replacement - before any Commons debate.

So Sir Menzies' call for a promise from the Prime Minister that there would be a Commons vote on all the options went to the heart of it. The Prime Minister confirmed the white paper on Trident would come before Christmas. So Labour backbenchers, many of who have been confused by different messages coming from ministers, now know pretty much for sure that they will not get what they want. And that means the campaign can move up a gear. Until now, the lack of clarity has succeeded in stalling that campaign. That is no longer the case and this is an issue that will now loom large on the Labour benches for months to come.