The Future of the British Nuclear Deterrent: Suggested Reading

The debate over the renewal of the UK’s strategic nuclear deterrent beyond the 2020s has been prevalent since the Labour government published its White Paper, The Future of the United Kingdom’s Nuclear Deterrent in December 2006.

The commitment to replace Trident with a submarine-based deterrent system was reiterated in the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review and in May 2011 the Trident successor programme passed its Initial Gate and is now in its assessment phase. Main Gate on the programme is scheduled for 2016.

The 2010 Coalition Agreement, however, made provision for the Liberal Democrats to continue to make the case for alternatives to the like-for-like replacement of Trident. In 2011 a Review of Alternatives, to be led by the Cabinet office, was therefore launched. That review reported in July 2013.

The following is a list of suggested reading material which provides background on the decision to replace the nuclear deterrent, the international legal context for such a decision, the current debate on financial and political viability of the successor programme, and the potential alternatives to a submarine-based deterrent, including the outcome of the recent Cabinet Office review. It also includes material that discusses the future of Trident in the event that Scotland votes in favour of independence in 2014.

This note may be read in conjunction with House of Commons Library Note The Trident Successor Programme: an update, SN06526, which examines the progress that has been made on the Successor programme. It also looks at wider issues such as the Trident Alternatives Review and the potential impact of the Scottish referendum on independence in September 2014.

United Kingdom: House of Commons: Library: Standard notes SN04207: The Trident Successor Programme: an update , June 2014 http://www.parliament.uk/briefing-papers/sn06526/the-trident-successor-programme-an-update

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