Extract from Lords debate on Nuclear Weapons - Feb 20
Wednesday, 21 February 2018 08:14
Lord Patten (Con):...To continue this process of measured nuclear
disarmament is, as I know the noble Baroness recognises, grinding,
difficult and long-term work. It can be achieved only by the
current possession, however, of the very weaponry that we wish to
abolish in the end. That is a practical paradox but a real one,
which is why I support the replacement of our current fleet of
deterrent-carrying Vanguard boats by
their Dreadnought successors in close co-operation with
the US,...Request free trial
(Con):...To
continue this process of measured nuclear disarmament is, as I know
the noble Baroness recognises, grinding, difficult and long-term
work. It can be achieved only by the current possession, however,
of the very weaponry that we wish to abolish in the end. That is a
practical paradox but a real one, which is why I support the
replacement of our current fleet of deterrent-carrying Vanguard
boats by their Dreadnought successors in close
co-operation with the US, and admire the efforts of France. These
three countries have together declared that they will never sign or
ratify this undoubtedly well-meaning but hopelessly unrealistic
treaty. The UN division list, as it were, on 7 July last year when
a division was called shows countries, with some dubious
virtue-signalling, for sure seeking to ban nuclear weapons but via
a treaty that does not enjoy the support of, or engage, any state
actually possessing the weapon. So this will not by itself reduce
nuclear arsenals...
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