BALLOT: Does Britain need the Trident nuclear defence programme?

Financial pressure is mounting on the cash-strapped Ministry of Defence which will somehow have to cover the cost, so a delay is reportedly being mooted among coalition Goverment officials in order to release the burden.

But with a £5.2bn order for two new aircraft carriers on the cards for Scottish ship-builders, worries are growing over many thousands of jobs.

On top of that there is the added problem that the Tories are in favour of the programme whereas their Lib Dem counterparts want to consider alternatives to a like-for-like replacement.

The current Trident fleet of submarines was built in the 80s and 90s and the first Vanguard-class sub is due to be retired in just 14 years.

The current deterrent, based at the Faslane naval base on the Clyde in Scotland, consists of four nuclear submarines armed with Trident ballistic missiles carrying nucler warheads.

But does Britain need this level of deterrent? Do we need the Trident programme at all?

Please vote in our poll and leave your thoughts in the comment box below.