Nick Harvey does not believe in using Nuclear Weapons - so why have them?

1.08.00pm GMT Tue 27th Feb 2007

Nick Harvey MP

If you are going to have Nuclear Weapons and believe that they work as a deterrent then you have to be prepared to use them, or at least say you will. Nick Harvey on his web-forum last night said that "We do not support their use, and the whole point of the deterrent is that we do not use it." Actually Nick it will only work as a deterrent if someone believes you will use it!

He also likens the process to a poker game, judging by what he said in the forum I am not sure I would want Nick to be playing our country's hand.

His main, in fact his only, argument was by keeping some Nuclear Weapons we could join in discussions with other nuclear powers. Surely ridding ourselves of Nuclear Weapons would send a clearer message and show leadership to other nuclear (and non-nuclear) countries.