News from Celtic League This afternoon (20th January 2015) the cost of the Trident nuclear submarine fleet will be debated in the House of Commons following the submission of a motion by Scottish and Welsh nationalist politicians. MP?s will not vote on Trident replacement until 2016, but a leaked report over the Christmas period revealed that spending on Trident will increase by £261 million this year alone. Angus Robertson, the SNP?s Westminster leader and defence spokesman, said: ?When Labour MPs have voted with the Tories for another £30bn of austerity cuts, it is frankly scandalous that a further quarter of a billion pounds of taxpayers? money is to be spent on Trident before parliamentarians even get a vote on whether or not to replace the system. ?In no other democracy, at a time of deep austerity and cuts, would over £3bn be spent on committing to such a massive project without consulting parliamentarians. Robbing the future budget of Trident only suggests they have already underestimated the eye-watering final cost.? The Trident upgrade is expected to cost £20bn in total, with the life-time costs of renewing Trident estimated to be around £100 billion. This afternoon will be the last opportunity to debate the issue in the House of Commons before the election. If you live in the UK and haven?t done so already, please write to your MP asking them to attend the debate (suggested email below). How to send a quick email: Visit: (voir le site) Enter postcode to find your MP Click on the name of your MP Use email below as a template: Dear I am writing to ask you to attend the debate on Trident this afternoon in the House of Commons and to vote against Trident renewal in 2016. The Trident upgrade is expected to cost £20bn in total, with the life-time costs of renewing Trident estimated to be around £100 billion. It is unfair that a further quarter of a billion pounds of taxpayers? money is to be spent on Trident before parliamentarians even get a vote on whether or not to replace the system. If this plan goes ahead, then there will be £100 billion in cuts to other areas of public spending in order to pay for these indiscriminate Weapons of Mass Destruction. This afternoon will be the last opportunity to debate the issue in the House of Commons before the election and I would like you to attend. Yours sincerely Link: (voir le site) (voir le site) 20/01/15 For comment or clarification on this news item in the first instance contact: Rhisiart Tal-e-bot General Secretary, Celtic League gensec [at] celticleague.net M: 07787318666 The General Secretary will determine the appropriate branch or General Council Officer to respond to your query. ISSUED BY THE CELTIC LEAGUE INFORMATION SERVICE??The Celtic League has branches in the six Celtic Countries. It works to promote cooperation between these countries and campaigns on a broad range of political, cultural and environmental matters. It highlights human rights abuse, monitors all military activity and focuses on socio-economic issues.