Trident, the £100bn barrier to an innovative UK defence policy

The argument between UK political parties over the renewal of the Trident nuclear missile system has been something special in the election campaign for its seemingly digital, yes-or-no, quality.

Other issues have had a more apparent grey area in which debate might meet in possible compromises, be it on tax sourcing, health spending or immigration controls.

The four nuclear-armed Trident submarines, however, are being either renewed at the cost of £100 billion, or scrapped – as the current submarines are approaching the end of their working life.

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