Response from Michael Fallon MP, Secretary of State for Defence

Pleasant but not unexpected response from Michael Fallon in response to my email last week calling for a change of direction away from Trident and trying to police the world. No word from Julian Brazier yet.

Dear Mr Jeffrey,

Thank you very much for your email to me regarding the Government’s defence policy and your kind words regarding my appointment as Secretary of State for Defence. May I take this opportunity to congratulate Amelie Boleyn on securing the nomination as the Sevenoaks Green Party candidate at the next General Election.

I believe it is absolutely vital that we maintain a continuous independent nuclear deterrent as the ultimate guarantee of our national security. This Government, and its predecessors, have consistently set out the case for maintaining our nuclear deterrent: that although no state currently has both the intent and the capability to threaten the independence and integrity of the UK, we do not know how the international environment will change in the future.  We cannot dismiss the possibility that a major direct nuclear threat to the UK might re-emerge, so it would not be right unilaterally to give up this capability.

Thank you once again for taking the trouble to contact me.

Kind regards,

Michael Fallon MP