Theresa May knew and hid evidence of failed trident missile firing
THE FAILURE OF BRITAIN’S weapons of mass destruction system was hidden from the public and parliament by the Tories ahead of last year’s crucial vote on the £200bn military apparatus.
Prime Minister Theresa May’s office knew about the failed missile launch that veered off in the wrong direction when tested off the coast of America in the summer of 2016.
The evidence of the dangerous malfunction was not made public despite taking place before a crucial Westminster vote on renewing a further generation of weapons and imposing them on their Scottish military bases.
The confirmation from Downing Street – which initially refused to confirm knowledge of the failed test – has led to calls for a resignation over the cover-up scandal.
The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) said: “The news that Theresa May covered up a failed Trident missile test in 2016 is a crisis for our democracy as well as a crisis for the security of Britain.”
It’s chair, Kate Hudson, added: “This is a very serious failure of the Trident system and there’s absolutely no doubt this would have impacted on the debate in Parliament on Trident replacement. The government’s motivation for holding back this vital information is therefore clear.
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“Instead of crucial information being given by the government at the appropriate time to inform the MP’s debate, it’s been revealed by a senior naval figure months after it took place.”
The former head of the Navy Lord West added to the indignation: “Why on earth did we [the UK Government] keep quiet about it?”
“I find it quite extraordinary that they effectively tried to hide the fact,” he said.
An urgent question will be heard at Westminster today [Monday 23 January] on the issue.
Senior Tory Julian Lewis called for the resignation of the person responsible for the Trident cover-up.
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SNP military spokesperson Brendan O’Hara MP added: “Trident is obscenely expensive and morally repugnant. If we now have to add that there is a real possibility it is unreliable and unsafe – then there must be massive question marks about its viability.
“If it turns out the UK government covered up these safety concerns just before Westminster voted to renew – that would be a sickening betrayal.
“58 of Scotland’s 59 MPs voted against it – and with costs out of control – the SNP will be asking these questions – and we want answers in full and fast.”
Picture courtesy of Benchmark6
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