British army Major General rubbishes claims that UK nuclear arsenal is ‘independent’

In the video below, former British army commander, Major General Patrick Cordingley, rubbishes claims that Britain’s nuclear arsenal is “independent”, arguing that the US controls all British nuclear operations.

He slapped down politicians who claim that the British nuclear deterrent is independent. “They would have to say that. It is simply not true, the control over firing these things would be the American president. We could simply not press the button and fire one ourselves, we just can’t do it, I promise you.”

The UK parliament will vote in 2016 on a new nuclear missile programme, which is set to cost Britain £167 billion. The Campaign for Nuclear Disamament is organising a national demonstration on 27 February to say Stop Trident Now.