17/02/01 - Nuclear weapons here to stay: Chris writes to The Birmingham Post

Sir, - The arrest of the Labour MP George Galloway outside the Trident nuclear submarine base at Faslane on the Clyde is a stark reminder of the extreme left -wing beliefs of many of Labour's back benchers.

Tony Blair, Robin Cook, Jack Straw and Peter Mandelson are just a handful of former CND members among the Parliamentary Labour Party. Mr Galloway's arrest was disgraceful.

As he was carried away by police, he shouted: 'Nuclear weapons are a waste of money. The real criminals are those inside the base.' It is utterly unacceptable for a Member of Parliament to call hard working, law abiding, loyal servicemen 'criminals'.

Mr Galloway should be severely reprimanded by his party for these comments and should reverse his re-selection as their candidate at the next election.

If Labour fails to act it will be a signal that the Government is soft when it comes to defence of Britain.

Nuclear weapons cannot be disinvented - they are here to stay and Britain needs a credible nuclear deterrent.

CHRIS D KELLY
Tettenhall,
Wolverhampton.