UK election threat to nuclear deterrent

The UK would need to abandon its independent nuclear deterrent if Labour wants to form a coalition after the general election with the Scottish National party, Plaid Cymru or the Greens, the leaders of all three parties have warned.

While all three parties have long backed the abolition of the nuclear deterrent, opinion polls suggest they will win additional seats in May and could hold the balance of power at Westminster.

In a joint press conference on Monday, they said they would not enter government with Labour unless they secured a pledge not to renew the UK’s Trident nuclear submarines, which are based in Scotland.

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