‘Executive discussions on Trident must be open’ – Ritchie | Latest Newry News, Newry Sport and Newry Business for Newry City

‘Executive discussions on Trident must be open’ – Ritchie

South Down MP Margaret Ritchie has called on the First Minister and deputy First Minister and the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail any discussions they had with the Chancellor and Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change around the investment in Faslane on the River Clyde.

ritchie2Speaking to Newry Times, Ritchie said, “George Osborne has announced that more than £500 million has been awarded in contracts to the Royal Navy’s submarine base at Faslane. This is further investment in a Cold War relic: the Trident nuclear submarines.

“This decision took place in advance of a vote on Trident in the House of Commons. Not for the first time in this Parliament, we see the Tory government riding roughshod over the views of the Commons,” the local MP insisted.

“The location, quite near the North Channel and the Irish Sea, has implications for Ireland, North and South. If the First and deputy First Minister and the ETI Minister held discussions with the Chancellor and the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change on this matter, it is imperative that the detail of the content is made known.

“However, if such discussions did not take place, this is a dereliction of duty on the part of the First Minister and deputy First Minister. The protection and interests of the citizens of Northern Ireland are very much affected by Trident and by the Chancellor’s announcement.

Ritchie added, “We in the SDLP have voted consistently against the renewal of Trident and will continue to do so.”

Short URL: https://newrytimes.com/?p=52417

Posted by on Sep 10 2015. Filed under Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

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