David Cameron: 'to axe Trident would put us in danger'

David Cameron warns today that it would be “foolish” for Britain even to consider abandoning Trident because the country faces an increased threat of nuclear attack from regimes such as North Korea.

The Prime Minister will welcome home HMS Victorious, submarine that carries Trident nuclear weapons Photo: PA/AFP

By Robert Winnett, Political Editor

10:15PM BST 03 Apr 2013

402 Comments

In an article for The Daily Telegraph today, the Prime Minister says that the nuclear threat facing Britain has “increased” since the end of the Cold War and that the country still requires the “ultimate weapon of defence”.

For the first time, he suggests that Britain may be in range of ballistic missiles fired by the “highly unpredictable and aggressive regime” in North Korea.

In an attack on the Liberal Democrats, who are considering calling for Trident to be scrapped, the Conservative leader also questions whether anyone can “seriously argue” that now is the time to surrender our deterrent, when the threat is “evolving”.

The Prime Minister will on Thursday welcome home HMS Victorious, a Royal Navy Vanguard-class submarine, which carries Trident nuclear weapons. The Conservatives have committed to replacing the Trident nuclear deterrent and preliminary work has begun.