Democracy strengthened

Good grief! Professor on A.Neil politics said that all PMs write a letter to the commander on submarine carrying nuclear all say that in the event of my death say it is understood by all in the know say "don't do it"!!!!!!!

JC simple is reiterating what the PMs say in writing.

Hope what I posted made sense to somebody, it doesn't make much sense to me!

Yes, got it. Corbyn is just being more open and honest, unlike the other party leaders. Nobody wants to use nuclear weapons, including every prime minister there has been.
Was Thatcher included in that?

He didn't name names just "every PM ever , so presumably yes.

What a ridiculous, bordering on wicked comment to imply that Mrs Thatcher might have approved of dropping nuclear weapons. If she did, then why didn't she authorise dropping one on Argentina?! Why is that you people on the left just cannot keep her out of vitriolic conversation, it's as if the rest of us kept going on about Michael Foot! Mind you he was pretty inadequate, the same cannot be said for Mrs T!!
I'm sure Corbyn is open and honest, but realistic he is not, and at the end of the day he will have to be, or move over for someone else - just my opinion you understand!

Nellie sorry if I have confused you but Mrs Thatcher according to the professor would have said "no" to dropping the bomb. As would every other prime minister.

You do keep going on about Michael Foot.
I have just heard on the news they were talking about Labour's nuclear fallout.
Does anyone else think that there should be a referendum on Trident?

Well hopefully there will be a vote for LP members at the very least.

I was answering dj, as she seemed uncertain as to whether Mrs Thatcher was party to this agreement. No, we don't keep on about Michael Foot, why on earth would we?!!!

Of course there shouldn't be a referendum on Trident. I expect you'd like one on-renationalisation of the railways etc. as well. They're matters for the government of the day, which is not the Labour Party led by Corbyn.

dj, might be a good idea to suggest to whoever that your DGD does not watch stuff like that.

Luckygirl, it helps to make us safer, right now. Agree with nigglynellie's post 16.04pm.

Will someone who claim trident protects us from attacks please explain why 187 countries without nuclear warfare haven't been attacked ?

Well if all prime minister refuse to press the damned button as is "well known" according to the professor, then this discussion is redundant!!

Perhaps there's never been any reason for attacking them - and it would have to be a pretty powerful one to annihilate a whole country.

Backlash springs to mind as well...

(powerful reason, to clarify)

In fact spending 100bn on renewing it goes beyond insanity.

Anniebach, perhaps because they know that others might step in and attack them if they did.

I am listening to Daily Politics. The spokesman said most prime ministers, not all, so it is quite conceivable that Thatcher did not say it.
By the way, he has also said, "It's a code, not a button. If it was a button, we would all be worried."

I missed all that - got too excited about the letter!!!!

Can you imagine,.... Someone leaning on the button by accident? of course it's a code, button is just a term we use.

I saw it too and had the same reaction whitewave.

It may not have been exactly have been taboo but the general "we know better than you" is getting put in it's place and people who would not have had the opportunity to say what they think are now being interviewed.

Sorry, roses. Some of us are not quite as intelligent as you. We have to be told. Why did you not put us right earlier?

The only way that nuclear weapons make us safer is the concept of MAD. The best way, it seems to me, is to simply pretend that we have nuclear weapons and - bingo! - the result is achieved without wasting millions/billions.

There is no evidence that Trident "helps to make us safer right now." Any nuclear weapon runs risks of accidents so in the short term do not make us safer in that respect. And, in the long term, we simply cannot use them without destroying the planet. So.....why waste all that money?

lucky what an intelligent suggestion!