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Guests discuss the future of Trident

Later this year, there will be a debate and vote in Parliament on the decision to order four new submarines for Britain's nuclear weapons system.

Andrew Neil discussed the future of Trident with Labour's defence review co-chairman Ken Livingstone, constitutional expert and guest of the day Lord Hennessy and Julian Lewis, the Conservative chairman of Parliament's Defence Committee.

Mr Livingstone said he hoped Labour would reach a position on Trident before a Commons vote is held "or it could take right through to the summer".

He said the defence review would "look at the facts" but added that there were a lot of people who would rather the government spent money on flood defences rather than on upgrading Trident.

Mr Lewis rejected the notion that renewing Trident would make the UK part of the nuclear arms race, saying the UK had "a minimum strategic nuclear deterrent" to protect its security.

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Duration:

11 minutes

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