Government does not rule out delay to new nuclear submarines

Britain is committed to its Trident nuclear deterrent but wants to keep spending tight as it renews it, Prime Minister David Cameron said on Thursday after a report that the replacement of submarines could be delayed.

The BBC said ministers were considering postponing the replacement of the four submarines that carry nuclear missiles until after the next parliamentary election, in 2015, to put back big spending and defuse tensions in the ruling coalition.

Speculation is also mounting that Trident might be downgraded to make it cheaper, for example by replacing only three of the four submarines -- which would end the policy of having at least one submarine at sea all the time.

Read more