Elwyn Watkins' YouTube Trident challenge

4.09.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 31st Jul 2009

The debate over the renewal of the Trident nuclear weapons system has sparked a debate over politicians' personal accountability, with Rae Street, the Chair of Greater Manchester CND joining Elwyn Watkins' call for politicians to come clean about where they stand on Trident.

"I feel very strongly about the renewal of Trident - particularly over the cost, which is conservatively estimated at £20 billion, though other estimates put the figure closer to £76 billion," said Elwyn Watkins, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson for Oldham East & Saddleworth. "This is money which could be better spent at a time of recession, on cutting taxes for middle and lower income people, on keeping people in work, on improving education and on protecting our troops wherever they are already deployed."

"I would vote against Trident as it is an enormous waste of money, it is not an independent deterrent and it ultimately makes the world a more dangerous place. According to a recent survey, a majority of people are now against nuclear weapons, and I believe that people should voice their views on Trident to their local MP or prospective candidates and ask them how they plan to vote when the issue of Trident renewal comes up in Parliament."

Rae Street, Chair of Greater Manchester CND, said, "We want people to raise it with their own MP: ask the same question, ask them to support all of the disarmament negotiations and make sure that this question comes up in Parliament for debate. When they do debate the Defence Review they must include Trident."

Elwyn Watkins added, "YouTube is, of course, no substitute for knocking on doors and listening to people, and my favourite part of campaigning is still talking with local people about issue that concern them. But as people increasingly spend more and more of their lives online I think it essential that politicians try to engage with voters in as many ways as possible, and YouTube is one way to do that."

Related Links:

Sign the "No to Trident" Petition.

YouTube Trident Challenge.